I recommend a new type of server called “Gladiator” server. This server has one death per weekly reset. The purpose is to create more community events and rewards without the sheer punishment of hardcore death-be-gone that prevents a lot of the player base from joining.
One death per week is still punishing.
Some potential events -
“Last man standing” battlegrounds - New rewards or titles could be given for teams that survive the gauntlet and have won the most games each week. If you die, you can try again the next week. As you queue later in the week, you know the survived team you’re up against will be one of the best and the stakes will be high.
“Fastest clear” raid time - Push the boundaries on raids and take your team as fast as you can. If you die you can try again the next week. Make leaderboards
“Fastest clear” dungeon time - Make leaderboards
“Gladiator” at Stranglethorn - The last man standing in the arena, or most kills. May want cutoff to be an actual playable time and not server reset. I.e. 11 pm Monday evening. Some fun in-game announcements calling out the player by name would be cool. if you die, you can try again next week.
I think this server type would take the community by storm.
More people would watch streamers on Monday battlegrounds as the stakes get higher. More people would make secondary characters when their main dies for xyz reason.
Many moments of death would be created but the character wouldn’t be deleted.
A lot of the preparations would be made so that people still wouldn’t want to die and take all of the various elements of this into account as people grind, gear up etc.
What do you guys think?