TLDR: Make end-game PvE content thrive on equality and punish monopoly. Instead of 5-man dungeons, make 10-man mini-raids that require 5 alliance and 5 horde.
The solution is actually so simple, I’m stunned. The devs need to change end-game PvE activities to simply thrive on equality between the factions instead of rewarding the monopoly of one faction over the other. My idea for this is to simply discard 5-man dungeons for an expansion or two, and make them 10-man mini-raids instead made up of equal parts Horde and Alliance.
In-game reasoning: I don’t know and don’t care. Make something up. Just entering the zones requires some kind of balance that being only from one of the two factions cannot accomplish.
Out of game reasoning: Requiring half-and-half will turn the end-game monopoly the horde has in NA, EU, and Asia, and that the Alliance has in AU into massive disadvantages for dungeons and M+ content, and the best way to fix the problem if you’re part of the overpopulated faction will be to simply change factions.
If you don’t want to wait in line, the Alliance is waiting for you.
Flex raids can’t be affected by this, but since a lot of gearing goes on in M+ if you want the easiest time gearing for mythic raids you’re going to need to be on the less populated faction so that you’re in higher demand for M+.
PvP already has merc mode and doesn’t need to be addressed.
Merc Mode for M+: Absolutely not. It would completely and totally defeat any and all reason to ever balance the factions and will only encourage more people to faction change to Horde.
Just wait until most of the Alliance players change to Horde (so Blizz gets maximum $$$$ from transfers) and then add a ton of Alliance bots to roam the world so the Horde can think they’re killing someone.
I’ve been Horde since essentially day 1 and could give a rat’s behind about the imbalance. Plus, the only Alliance races I like for all intents and purposes should’ve been Horde anyway.
What about those like me?
I follow the logic you’re seeking; however, disagree with being forced to roll with the enemy.
I’d be more for a merc system like they have in PVP though. That way those who want to help the weaker side can and potentially reap a reward for their trouble.
Blizzard refused to let horde play together with the alliance cuz ‘faction conflict is important to le game’
There is only one solution at the moment, faction change to horde, most people who do serious content are on the horde both pve and pvp wise, the devs and many players as seen in this thread are in denial or refuse to fix the issue.
So time to make the issue worse. Faction change, enjoy the advantages of the horde and let alliance die out completely to the point even horde is annoyed by that.
That is the only way for the devs to acknowledge the issue and do something, alliance has been in the worst state it has ever been and clearly that isn’t enough for the devs, make it worse by faction changing. I am planning to faction change within 1-2 weeks
Merc mode isn’t mixing the factions, when an Orc signs up for a battleground in merc mode they don’t go into the battleground as an Orc. All this is is a player temporarily playing the opposite faction. Your argument would only hold water if we weren’t able to play both factions.
As you can see, even though there are documented facts that show there is a huge faction imbalance issue and Alliance has been worse than it has ever been, there are many who deny it even exists, and devs refuse to do anything about it even though they saved their favorite child the horde back in WoD when they were losing even though it was nowhere near as bad as the current alliance issue.
Meanwhile facts
It is clear some people will remain in denial, they dont want to admit there is a problem so like i said, the only solution is to make the problem worse by faction change, make alliance die so much that the devs are finally forced to admit the issue and do something about it.
Honestly, when it comes down to some raids (not things like BoD of course) faction collusion makes sense even and could certainly be instigated more in the future.
How many times has lore said that we have “banded together” to fight greater threats? Something that Legion was incredibly strong on.
When it comes down to having to put aside our differences and take down N’zoth for example why wouldn’t we band together our strongest heroes?
Sure we don’t have to be chummy afterwards, but thematically it would make sense.
