Rulesets: Normal, PvP, RP and RP-PvP
When you create a character in Forever you will not see a realm list. The first choice is a ruleset: one large shared world per ruleset and region, instead of dozens of named realms.
The four rulesets at launch
| Ruleset | World PvP | Roleplay naming and chat rules | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Opt-in only (flagging, battlegrounds, duels) | No | Most players, dungeons and raids without being ganked while leveling |
| PvP | Always on in contested zones | No | Players who want the open-world fights of the original game |
| RP | Opt-in only | Yes | Roleplayers who want immersion and strict names |
| RP-PvP | Always on in contested zones | Yes | Roleplayers who also want world PvP |
Hardcore is announced for winter 2026/27 as a fifth ruleset. It is not available at launch.
What the ruleset locks
- You can only group, raid and trade with characters on the same ruleset and the same faction. A friend on PvP cannot join your Normal dungeon group.
- Rulesets exist per region. Pick the region closest to you in the Battle.net app before you log in: players in Europe and Russia normally use Europe, Latin America uses Americas.
- Your character names, friends and guild live inside one ruleset. Rerolling to another ruleset means starting there from scratch.
How to choose
- Agree with your friends first. The ruleset is the one decision you cannot change later without rerolling.
- If you have never played the original game and want to learn the dungeons and zones in peace, take Normal.
- If “being ganked in Stranglethorn” is a fond memory and not a complaint, take PvP. Expect contested zones to be busy on launch week and before raids open.
- Roleplay rulesets enforce name rules: no numbers, no titles, no famous names. Reports are taken seriously there.
Common questions
Is there a queue per ruleset? Yes. On launch night the popular rulesets had login queues. Queues are per ruleset and region, so a quieter ruleset can be a way in.
Can I move a character between rulesets? Blizzard has not announced transfers between rulesets. Treat the choice as permanent for now.
Can Alliance and Horde talk? No, same as the original game. Cross-faction grouping does not exist in Forever.
Based on Blizzard’s launch materials. Details marked as unknown will be updated after they are checked in game.