Choosing A Server Type For SWTOR. PVE, PVP, RP-PVE, RP-PVP?

This guide is designed to help you make a more informed choice of which server type you plan to choose to be your main server at launch. It is designed for all levels of MMO player experience.

For quite a while we have known what the four types of servers there will be at launch but you may have questions as to just what mechanics each type of server offers and if you think it would be a good fit for you and your play style.

I will go over them and then try to give suggestions as to which play styles might fit you best. To the seasoned MMO veteran this may be old news as these types of servers are pretty much standard fare these days, but to new players this may be a confusing choice so it bears some explanation.

At launch we have been told by Bioware that there will be four types of servers available:
  • PVE (Player versus Environment)
  • PVP (Player versus Player)
  • RP-PVE (Role Playing Player versus Environment)
  • RP-PVP (Role Playing Player versus Player)

OK, that’s great you say. What do those designations mean and what are the mechanics present in them?

PVE (Player vrs Environment)

On this type of server players are concerned with things like questing, character development, advancing trade skills like crafting and gathering, exploration of the world, interaction with other players in a non-combatant manner, experiencing things like operations with groups of friends working together and etc, usually.

There still is the option to have PVP interaction if you wish in areas like warzones and open world PVP areas or “lakes” as they are commonly referred to. You will manually have to select the option on your character options to flag yourself for PVP combat or you will not be able to be attacked, or be able to attack other players unless you are in a area specifically designed for PVP like the planet Ilum for instance, or you are making use of the /duel command.

So if in your normal play style you can’t be bothered with constantly looking over your shoulder while questing, or sweating the fact that you may be ganked at any moment by raving squads of PVP’ers then this may be a great choice.

If you want to have the experience of being protected from PVP while still having the option to try or participate in PVP, just on your own terms and your own timetable, then this may be the server choice for you.


PvP (Player vrs Player)

On this type of server players are concerned with the standard fare like questing and etc, but the player that chooses this type of server desires more of a confrontational or competitive type of experience. PVP ability on this type of server is “always on” and is not able to be toggled off. This is the server type where the valor statistic is going to be key.

Unless you are in a area that has been designed as a “safe spot” where you cannot be attacked, like a origin world, your factions fleet, or your capital world, then you are fair game for whatever and whoever desires your characters demise.

So if in your normal preferred play style you crave the excitement that can come from a surprise attack out of nowhere, or you like to play the role of the hunter looking for the thrill of the chase, then this server is the best choice for you.

*Just as a side note about this type of server, you can defeat other players in the open world but in this game there is no looting of defeated players corpses by other players and each class has a self resurrection option that when chosen to “res at this location” gives you a ten second window to allow you to escape the area while cloaked and hidden from sight until the timer wears off.

With that sort of mechanics in place you should be able to avoid being killed over and over again ( a scenario commonly referred to as “T-Bagging” ) and be able to escape the scene or at least get enough of a head start that if fleeing is your choice then you should be able to do it.

RP-PvE (Role Playing Player vrs Environment)

Players on this type of server are more concerned with the interaction with other players on a more immersive and lore centric type of mindset. They still want to participate in other game features but to them the journey or the path they take in developing their character and the manner in which they interact with others and the quest material is of the most importance in more cases than not from what I have seen in other realms that offered this style of server.

It seems to be Bioware’s wish that if they designate a server of this type then it will attract those who want to role play and act “in character.” Those that want to live the life of their characters as it applies to the lore of the realm.

Just how much policing they plan to do to enforce this type of server community is still yet to be seen but unless the person and the immersion breaking offense they commit is extreme or habitual I wouldn’t expect too much action from the customer support staff in this area and I feel it is more of a situation where they feel if they provide the server that is labeled as such, then people of that mindset will migrate there and have a place they can experience the game as they wish with like minded players.

There still is the option to have PVP interaction if you like, in areas like warzones and open world PVP areas or “lakes.” You will manually have to select the option on your character options to flag yourself for PVP combat or you will not be able to be attacked or attack other players unless you are in a area specifically designed for PVP like the planet Ilum for instance, or you are making use of the /duel command.


RP-PvP (Role Playing Player vrs Player)

With this type of server environment players are encouraged to role play and act ‘in character’ while pursuing their desires and while engaging in PVP style combat. This lends to a style of PVP that is not based around griefing or constantly proving ones prowess in player versus player battle or achieving the top spot on a leader board but is more focused on the lore of the world and how that relates to PVP.

Someone who realizes and cherishes the fact that in the Star Wars the Old Republic time period, there is a battle going on between the Empire and The Republic. That war between the two is inescapable and desires to play their character in this mindset and immerse themselves in it will find this style of server to their best liking it is hoped.

It seems to be Bioware’s wish that if they designate a server of this type then it will attract those who want to role play and act “in character” even while PVP-ing. Those that want to live the life of their characters as it applies to the lore of the realm and the story and environment of the time period.

Just how much policing they plan to do to enforce this type of server community is still yet to be seen but unless the person and the immersion breaking offense they commit is extreme or habitual I wouldn’t expect too much action from the customer support staff in this area and I feel it is more of a situation where they feel if they provide the server that is labeled as such, then people of that mindset will migrate there and have a place they can experience the game as they wish with like minded players.

PVP ability on this type of server is “always on” and is not able to be toggled off. Unless you are in a area that has been designed as a “safe spot” where you cannot be attacked, like a origin world, your factions fleet, or your capital world, then you are fair game for whatever and whoever desires your characters demise and wants to do it in a “in character” type of method.

So if in your normal preferred play style you crave the excitement that can come from a surprise attack out of nowhere, or you like to play the role of the hunter looking for the thrill of the chase, and you want to speak to others and behave as if your character is actually part of the lore of the realm and not just a PVP character on a server of SWTOR, then this type is the best choice for you.



Hopefully this information will help you to make a more informed choice as to which server to play on at launch and it is my hope that it will be for many years into the future! Please be sure to leave any and all comments on this guide in the comments area below and be sure to follow me on Twitter for announcements as to updates to these guides or of new general game play or crew skills focused guides in the future.

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!

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9 Responses to Choosing A Server Type For SWTOR. PVE, PVP, RP-PVE, RP-PVP?

  1. Comment by K-Shock made on December 11, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    I am wondering something. Having only been a crafter on a WoW PvE server, and enjoyed playing on a PvP server on the side (it wasn’t my main so I didn’t craft much on that server) would you recommend going on a PvE or PvP server at launch?

    I love the thrill of PvP servers, but you can get griefed in a hurry on them, especially if you steal nodes.

    Though, as I understand it, Illum is PvP anyway, so having been used to PvP in an open world environment might just help gathering high level resources.

    • Comment by swtorcrafter made on December 11, 2011 at 5:05 pm

      they both have their merits as far as a crafter is concerned. They both have very strong markets to apply yourself towards providing too. Honestly this has been one of the toughest decisions for me personally and why I decided to do this guide because I felt if I was having this much problems trying to decide this issue there must be lots lore like me out there. My decision is honestly going to be decided more by my friends wishes than my own at this point. I want to make sure above all other concerns that I get on the servers my friends are on so that I can game with them. I will adjust my crafting choices to the markets on which ever style I end up on with my mains at that time. Its weird for me on this realm because normally I make a choice and stick with it no matter what servers everyone ends up on, but with this community is it vastly different with me in that I am willing to adapt to any style just to be with the cool people I have met in this community.

      🙂 thanks for commenting!

  2. Comment by J1RG made on February 5, 2012 at 1:06 am

    This guide was extremely helpful and should be put somewhere on SW:TOR’s official site.
    I now know that I will be playing on both a RP-PVE server (mostly because of friends already being there) and having a character on a RP-PVP server. Your description of the RP-PVP flooded my mind with so many epic Shadowbane and Darkfall memories that to not indulge in such a play style would be a terrible inhibition as well as an offense brought down against myself. 🙂

  3. Comment by Rennan Cordeiro made on February 18, 2012 at 7:43 pm

    Something i want to know, if you play on RP-PvE server, does that mean that all your quests will not need other players to finish? like for example, there will be no more quests like Heroic 4 or Heroic +2?

  4. Comment by John made on March 16, 2012 at 12:49 am

    Thanks for the informative guide.It helped me choose the right kind of server for my type of game play.

  5. Comment by Simon made on March 28, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    Thanks for a great guide.
    I have a question:

    On PvP you write: “just as a side note about this type of server, you can defeat other players in the open world but in this game there is no looting of defeated players corpses by other players”

    Does this mean, that on the PvE server, you can loot dead player corpses, if so does the dead player loose any items?

    Cheers,

    • Comment by luke made on April 27, 2012 at 2:46 pm

      no becuase they are no dead player corps in Pve bevcause u cant fight another player but u can loot dead NPC’s and those non player coprs

    • Comment by Jalek made on May 6, 2012 at 4:56 pm

      No there is never any looting/item drops when you kill a player, on any type of server

  6. Comment by krvwizard made on November 14, 2013 at 11:37 pm

    Very helpful, ty!