🚀 go-pugleaf

Taipan
> OK, i have a 60 hunter, 60 priest and various level 20 to 40 alts on 
> Arathor (all alliance), a PVE server and I'm a bit bored.
>
> So I started on a PVP server with some friends on the horde side (Al'Akir) 
> as a Shaman (ok, considered by many as the 'easy' option but it's the only 
> class I've yet to really play) and up to level 20, absolutely no problem.
>
> However, i did my first few quests in contested areas (running to Tarren 
> Mill for totem quest and then a few quests in Ashenvale) and I was ganked 
> 4 times straight by level 60 chars (2 rogues, a mage and a druid).  Now, 
> don't get me wrong - I'm not crying about it, I knew this was likely to 
> happen even before starting on a pvp server

In my experience you had pretty bad luck with so much level 60 ganking.
After BGs I haven't seen much level 60s in Hillsbrad (but I admit Alterac
Valley was generally empty on my server)
I had a couple of skull level attack me while I was low 20, just after the 
BG
patch, and skull levels tended to be present and aggresive when I went to
an area a defense channel warned about. Otherwise skull attacks were
neglectable.

>  - but what I want to know is just how hard is levelling on a PVP server 
> in these contested areas compared to levelling on a pve server?  Am I 
> likely to be spend more time walking back from graveyards than actually 
> trying to level

I agree with others, Stranglethorn Vale is rough and often requires 
grouping.
In contrast to others, however, I warn you, not to overgroup.
Not only the quests, PvP gets too easy too that way.

I suggest to occasionally quest alone and use grouping for chat only.
You can still complete a lot alone on a PvP server.
Dealing with PvP all alone is a thrill that is not comparable to group PvP
and yes, a lot of that will be running for your life.

Being in a group of 2 is probably optimal most of the time (a feeling of
being together and still some thrill)

> or are there periods when you can actually do the quests without fear of 
> being 1-shot by a passing alliance?

(Sorry ... I can't resist the opportunity to recall the following)

People can be pretty meek at times on PvP servers.
I remember a time when I went to the Hinterlands alone with my level 41
mage to do Grim Message (Nimboya's Pike). Every toon I met was
friendly to me and to others (and I was to them).
A lot of waving and such...

The level 30 pally short before the entrance of Hinterlands.
The level 42 dwarf warrior and level 45 orc warrior helping eachother
(they alternated tagging creatures and killed them together)
A level 48 gnome warlock was on my screen for about a minute.
A level 51 troll shaman who came along during the above.
A level 46 human warlock on a mount.
A group with a level 44 human hunter + other level 43 allie.

Hans