Premade beta toons available again -- for real
by Natalie Mootz 
Sep 9th 2008 at 4:00PM
After the false alarm a few days ago, premade characters are available for copy to the US Wrath beta PvP realm Murmur. (Apparently, the realm was called "Murmer" up until a few hours ago. I guess Blizzard decided on a last minute spell check.) I have firsthand knowledge that the character copy now works because I copied three toons this morning and less than two hours later they are now playable. If you have a beta key and you want to play on the PvP server, keep in mind a few things:
- You can only choose all Horde or all Alliance toons because it's a PvP server.
- You can copy up to three level 80 characters, stacked with top-notch PvP gear.
- This server is designed to test Wintergrasp. Other PvE areas like Azeroth and Outland may not be available for play on this server.
- If you like Night Elves, you're stuck playing a Druid. Dwarves, on the other hand, get a choice of three classes (Hunter, Priest, or Warrior). Every other race gets two classes each.
- Right now the wait time is only a couple of hours. It will get longer as more people copy toons. So go over there ASAP.
Filed under: Realm News, Realm Status, News items, PvP, Expansions, Raiding, Wrath of the Lich King, Battlegrounds
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Halokon Sep 9th 2008 4:15PM
From what Vaneras has said on the eu beta forums, not only is there currently not a server for premades, it's inferred that there will not be a server.
(http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=9679909751&sid=2003&pageNo=2)
Now, I'd ask for the US among you to not come down on me too hard, but it does look like the EU-US divide is getting bigger, with the US getting 3 servers versus the EU's one.
I can't vouch for the US servers, but the EU one is laggy as hell, being that our entire continent has nowhere else to go, whereas the US gets 3 to spread out a bit on.
I'm not being one of those "Waah, wahh, blizzard ignore the eu and love teh us waah waah" people, it just does seem like the logical thing to do would have been a more equal spread. The reason Vaneras gave (not enough resources, i.e. servers) just seems a little poor given that it is Blizzard. I mean, they will have servers getting ready to be used for WotLK, use one of them in the mean time?
Anyways, sorry for the wall of text, but Blizzard need to get a grip with the whole PR side of things, it's all hunky dory till someone loses their premades...
Justin Sep 9th 2008 4:33PM
I wonder what the populations are line and what the ratio is? Did we in the US get 3 times the beta invites? It would make sense to me then, but I don't know. Honestly though, beta in the US is almost equally laggy and buggy. I do love it though :)
MediumSizedRob Sep 9th 2008 5:11PM
Implied.
This is a beta test... and although it's fun, it's not designed for our entertainment like a commercial release. It's for testing the content before it's ready for sale. I really can't see how anyone is complaining about a free beta test.
And don't worry, the servers are just as bad in the US. Lag is always an issue and they crash constantly. Also, people in the US complain all the time that EU players get preferential treatment. EU forums are linked non-stop because everyone thinks you get info first from your CMs. The grass is always greener and people will complain about anything.
Halokon Sep 9th 2008 6:34PM
Inferred is acceptable.
And no mention of fun, I realise that this is for testing purposes. Also, free?
http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/03/beta-opt-in-f-a-q/
Q: Who is eligible for the Wrath of the Lich King Beta opt-in?
A: Any player who has both an active World of Warcraft subscription and World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade is eligible to opt in to the beta at (https://www.worldofwarcraft.com/account/beta-opt-in.html). The account must be active when the beta starts in order to be eligible to receive an invitation.
You need to be paying to get in.
The main complaint is that the US has 3 servers (their functionality is not an issue, neither is the EU's) to the EU's one. And of that, the US gets premades. Vaneras says it's because they ran out of hardware, to which the obvious rebuttal is "Duh, then give the premade server to the EU?". I realise some people are finding it hard to put aside their love of Blizzard when it comes to complaints about a beta. What you need to remember is:
Blizzard are not doing you a favour by letting you into the beta. You are doing them a favour for testing it.
And as such, you would expect a little common courtesy, like not making the EU little more than a glorified stress test.
If it happens that the US outnumbers the EU to the tune of 3:1, then, perhaps I could understand...but then, as much as I hate to be extreme, it does feel like a bit of a kick to the teeth.
Bang Sep 9th 2008 7:33PM
Actually you don't have to have an active subscription to play in the beta servers despite what the FAQ says. I even received a beta even though my game time expired just few days after I opted-in.
Doesn't make it any less annoying that we in the EU aren't being treated equally. But seeing as it is beta Blizzard has the right to do whatever it wants.
cain Sep 9th 2008 4:35PM
Is a spit in our face here in Europe . We are damn tired of this Blizzard attitude ... Premade chars only for USA ? WTF ? We are again second hand customers ?
When this Blizzard arrogance will stop ? Will it ever stop ? Or we got to hit them in their pockets to make them sensible ?
STOP being jerks to Europe guys untill is not too late.
slartibart Sep 9th 2008 4:55PM
It's a beta server.
I fail to see why you think not having enough TEST servers is an insult to you EU customers.
Dack57 Sep 9th 2008 9:16PM
You also have to realize that it's probly easier for a US based company to test in the US. They have more invested in the US because thats where they have been for 20. They havent been in the EU for that long so don't expect them to have the same infrastructure that they have in the US.
Sinthar Sep 10th 2008 7:12AM
@Dack57 Well 1) Probably does not equate in my mind - if they have to set up servers - it doesnt matter what continent really surely. They have the capacity and capability in Europe, otherwise the Wrath launch is gonna be a REAL damp squib, so why not give Europe some love too
2) It would be better for them. Europe is more diverse, both in languages, and hardware (and networking) than America, just because it is a lot of different countries. This would give Blizz more technical feedback and enable them to fix problems before launch.
Oh and @ Slartibart
If you have two kids, and you offer one a sweet 'so you can see if kids like it' do you really think the other kid would think thats fair? The test server is a 'treat', not to offer at least SOME availability to a major chunk of blizz's subscribers seems to indicate that the EU market is not considered important enough to take one extra server for 'cross the pond' testing. That lack of consideration or care is what makes the disparity an insult. To put it another way, if you think you have a contribution to make to the discussion, and its rejected out of hand without even being listened to, or even given the oppertunity to speak, because your (too far away, skin colour, height, weight, eye colour, religion, politics, etc etc etc) then how would you feel. Personally i couldnt give a rats fart about test servers, pvp or pve, but there are many many people who do.
Siara Sep 9th 2008 4:47PM
I agree, I would love premades in eu.. Oh well, same with the damn lag on EU.. :D
Haalf Sep 9th 2008 4:59PM
Still broke for me.. i was one of the ones that went and tried to copy with the first report that they were available and ever since I've had -1 Copies Available and the Premade button is greyed out.
Got excited with this report, no love for my account though.
Teresa Sep 9th 2008 5:07PM
Just copied a priest & a druid on the US Beta. Says 1 hr wait, but right now its instant.
Horixon Sep 9th 2008 5:15PM
This has actually been available since Friday around midnight. The initial wait time for my toons was 2 days. It ended up taking about 18 hours. So hopefully the 2 hour wait time is a sign that the copy surge is past.
Horixon Sep 9th 2008 5:18PM
And yes, I'm aware that the first time around it wasn't supposed to be available. I was actually one of the people that requested a copy then too, and it was cancelled out. Once the Murmur server went live after the Friday patch, I was able to copy my three toons. They were active Sunday afternoon.
Clbull Sep 9th 2008 5:23PM
I hope its not going to be as bad as the premades in the 2.4 PTR on Europe were. Its wierd because premades were unavailable, made available a week after the US and then copying was delayed until the end of the PTR.
On a more related subject. I wanted access to the beta and clearly, I never got sent a beta invite so that sucks I guess.
Eddy Sep 9th 2008 6:03PM
Top-notch gear? Actually, its the blue vendor PVP set, much like the one we can get now. It entertained me because my hunter in live is not too well geared, he's in ZA and badge gear, and he has about 25% crit and 2k AP- this gear gives you about 25% crit and 2.5k AP, with comparable talents (beastmastery specced.) I"m sure it has some nice resilience and stuff, but in terms of top notch? Not so much.
Retron Sep 9th 2008 5:56PM
God I hate the term 'toon'...
Xtofer Sep 9th 2008 7:22PM
Is it just me, or is it still unavailable? The pre-made section is still grayed out for me when I try to copy a character.
yote Sep 9th 2008 9:25PM
no go for me either. :(
Erixx Sep 9th 2008 8:02PM
And for the love of god, from what i've seen, don't go alliance on Murmur if you want to play around in Wintergrasp. The alliance - horde ratio is terrible, you CAN'T pick someone off before 4 more people come to their aid.