If you're a regular reader of our Guildwatch feature, you may remember hearing about the woes of the Oceanic PvP realm Thaurissan on the last Guildwatch. The server is incredibly Horde heavy, with an estimated 14 to 1 imbalance, and the server denizens say it is genuinely near impossible to get 25 people together to do raid content on the Alliance side. Unfortunately , we also know that Blizzard is still firmly against PvE to PvP realm transfers, which may be preventing Thaurissan from getting the influx of new blood they need.

However, for the sake of Thaurissan's Alliance, they have suspended this restriction. Starting today, June 12th, and ending no later than June 19th, Alliance characters (and only Alliance characters) from the Oceanic PvE realms Nagrand, Aman'thul, and Khaz'goroth will be eligible for free transfers to the Thaurissan realm. Blizzard reserves the right to close transfers early if they meet their goals, so if you're eligible and you want to go, you'd better get that request in now.

This is not the first time they've done this type of thing. Over two years ago, a large cluster of PvE realms were given the opportunity to transfer to the Black Dragonflight and Dalvengyr PvP servers. Thus, it seems that they can be convinced to waive their restrictions on transfers, but that a chance to do so may only come up once every 2 years. Good luck to everyone transferring to Thaurissan, and hopefully this gives the Thaurissan Alliance the shot in the arm they need to get their end game going.

One of the larger complaints about the ability to transfer servers is the lack of PvE to PvP transfers. You can transfer your character from a PvP server to a PvE server, but not the other way around. Some folks see this as discriminating against the PvP servers, while others see it as a good thing.

Blizzard is firmly on the side of those that see it as good. In a recent blue post Bornakk has came out and said that while the option is there, they have no plans to allow it. Apparently this has "been on the table" for the past two years.

Personally, I'm glad they won't be allowing this. The ability to transfer from PvP to PvE makes sense since you won't be disrupting the gearing balance. But think about what would happen if you could transfer from a PvE to a PvP server. Everyone would level their characters on a PvE server, and then transfer them to a PvP server at 70. This would make it nearly impossible to get a group or have any pre-70 game play on the PvP server. I know some of you are going to say that it already is impossible, but it would just become more difficult. So I'm with Blizzard on this one.

What do you think? Is it a good policy, or should Blizzard change their ways?

Ready Check is a weekly column focusing on successful raiding for the serious raider. Hardcore or casual, Kara or BT, everyone can get in on the action and down them some bosses. Hong is still recovering from a vicious rabid koala attack, so you'll have to put up with me this week. We both feel sorry for you.

When you're in a raiding guild there is a natural attrition that happens at a slow but constant pace. A mage here will have to start classes, a priest there gets transferred to night shift. Your best rogue suddenly isn't feeling the game anymore and wants to take a break. A couple of friends decide that a more casual guild is better for them... I could spend all day listing the reasons why people take off and leave you hanging.

If you're on a high population server with a good chunk of your faction representin' in raid instances, then the normal course of action is to hit up your realm forums with a post containing who you're looking for and what your guild is like. You bump it every couple of days and wait for people to contact you. You can also spread the word over the guild recruitment channel or even have your guildmates ask around.

But what if you're not on that kind of server? What if you're on a medium population server where the closest guild progressing in your faction is a whole tier behind you?

Earlier this evening, Drysc announced a bevy of free character transfers for the North American realms, in four groups. The transfers began today at 3:00 PM PST, and will run until Thursday, January 17 at 3:00 PM PST -- that's one week, for those who shun addition. As always, transfer ASAP if you know you want to switch servers, because they do occasionally shut down early due to desired population levels being reached. And now, the available moves:

• Group A:
• From: Illidan, Sargeras, Kel'Thuzad, Mannoroth
• To: Anatheron
• Group B:
• From: Jubei'Thos, Frostmourne, Barthilas
• To: Thaurissan
• Group C:
• From: Aman'Thul, Khaz'goroth, Dath'Remar, Nagrand
• To: Caelestrasz
• Group D:
• From: Emerald Dream, Destromath, Tichondrius, Stormreaver
• To: The Underbog

If you want to take advantage of these moves, go to the Character Move page. Will you be migrating to a new Azeroth? If you are on one of the affected servers, do you think the transfers will produce a positive effect? Are you not on this list, and think you need a transfer? Blizz claims the realms are selected based on population statistics, but since they still inexplicably refuse to provide the public with their stats, we have no way of actually knowing that.

Players who transfered servers after earning their Season 2 titles are reporting that those titles vanished after a hotfix: Blizzard poster Pavonum responds that some folks who transfer might lose their arena titles.

This mechanic is currently being examined in greater detail, so that further determination may be made as to whether its current functionality is in line with the design as envisioned by the appropriate developers; we regret to inform you, however, that any titles lost as a result of this mechanic are unable to be reinstated or reimbursed by the Game Master Department. Please accept our most sincere apologies, however, for any frustration or inconvenience this matter may have caused, and await word on any potential changes in the status of this functionality.

He later goes on to say that they're looking into claims that titles were lost not after transfer... the titles transfered intact, it seems... but rather after emergency maintenance. Have any of you transfered a character and lost an arena title recently? If the loss is just part of the risk one assumes when transfering that's one thing, but it would seem odd and easily correctable if the loss of a title came well after a transfer due to a glitch in maintenance, but I'm hardly an expert in the oddities of server transfer.

Thanks to Jagoex for the tip.