Patch 8.1 and Cross-Faction Roleplay

Blizzard: you came through for us once with sharding. Now you need to come through for us again.

It’s no hyperbole to say that addons are the cornerstone of the RP community in WoW. Things like XRP, TRP3, Tongues, and Gryphonheart Items have been used for years to enable our community to function. Breaking one of our addons - one that hurt nothing by its very design, and only utilized in-game tools that you gave us - you set a dangerous precedent. How long until you decide that Tongues shouldn’t work? How long until you decide that TRP3 sends too many messages?

CrossRP is an addon that the community has been waiting for literally since the game came out as a way to enhance our roleplay. Finally, we had it in a way that was within the Terms of Service…and then it gets randomly broken. Entire story arcs and guilds that depended on this addon are now completely out of lucky.

You disabled sharding on RP realms due to community demand; we know you’re capable of responding to our needs. Let us have our fun.

18 Likes

This addon honestly saved roleplaying for me this expansion. If it wasn’t for it, I probably would have quit the game shortly after BFA launched. But using it I met so many wonderful friends who I now talk to and roleplay with every week, and they’re where the majority of my roleplay comes from.

It’s paved the way for unique and (nearly) seamless cross-faction stories that weren’t possible before. With this addon gone, that roleplay circle and group of friends is disrupted. Even bigger, the cross faction RP community (which has become pretty close-knit and active on my realm) is essentially no more, and it’s heartbreaking because it was a thriving, supportive community that provided some of the best server events in recent memory.

I sincerely hope to see the addon able to come back and that community able to thrive once more. If not, I know a lot of people will probably be unsubbing.

10 Likes

I’ve made my opinion known in the other thread on this, but I’ll just echo my support for this addon and pray to whatever deity happens to be listening that Blizzard reverts this change. I was already disappointed beyond words with 8.1, but with this change effectively robbing me of the one fun activity I had left, I have no reason to stick around.

4 Likes

Throwing my support behind this. CrossRP has given a huge boost to the RP community. Whether it was intentionally broken or not, it would be very disappointing to see it gone for good. Guilds like my own utilize this addon quite a bit and it would be a blow to our RP events for it to be gone. It’s also been an amazing tool for larger events like Tournament of Ages. It’s led to myself and so many others to meet new people and make new friends.

10 Likes

I have not used Cross-RP, but I fully support bringing it back.

5 Likes

This is just a random thing, but I just have to say it that my mind is literally being blown right now by the sheer support that’s popping up here. So many people, so many stories, and reasons for enjoying this addon, all coming together like this! It’s like an rp event in itself! Maybe it’s just my cold making me wonky, but I dunno. It’s just fascinating.

15 Likes

It’s a shame that blizzard decided to throw down the no fun button on such a great addon, one that did nothing to harm the game and its structure.

It’s a damn shame.

2 Likes

I 100% support bringing this addon back. As a member of a guild that uses cross-faction roleplaying for player-owned markets, performances, and other outings, it’s important that we have some way of reaching out to other roleplayers that isn’t limited to Raid group manipulation or coordinated B. Net whispers.

I know that this expac is all about faction versus faction, but some of us aren’t here to fight each other. We’re here to roleplay and have fun in a different way.

Please allow CrossRP to come back.

8 Likes

NOTHING?! We were having fun!!! That’s a big problem from Blizz PoV.

3 Likes

It’s a low blow, Blizzard. A very low blow.

Especially to the roleplay community, yes I know we might not be a big community, but its still a terrible thing to do. Please fix this problem, Blizzard. Allow us to have our stories, our events and our roleplays. We don’t bother anyone else, its usually those that bother us. We are only asking a simple favor from you.

Let us have this one thing, please Blizzard.

5 Likes

At the very least an explanation of why its functionality was curtailed would be good. I hardly used it myself but I have seen people using it out in the world for months and it makes Warcraft seem much more alive. Was there a good reason it ended up with its basic functions blocked? If not, I would think it could be fixed for happier customers.

7 Likes

This addon was entirely 100% a opt-in addon, meaning not just anyone could download and start right away. It involved some research and cooperation in the community, joining a community, joining a relay channel. Tammy did an excellent explanation how this addon became a cornerstone to the RP community.

13 Likes

She sure did, I agree 100%.

As a new RPer who sees the potential that this has, I have loved CrossRP and would love to see its continued functionality. It is a great add on that allows for moments we see in the cinematic between opposing factions.

Speaking cross faction isn’t just for faction leaders, it’s for everyone.

8 Likes

Furthermore: isn’t it a sad state of affairs when a video game company has a reputation for hating fun?

If we only enjoyed WoW in the prescribed way, there wouldn’t be an RP community.

5 Likes

This addon and the ability to have meaningful cross-faction RP has breathed new life into this game for me. Where I had historically only subbed for short periods of time just long enough to experience the story content, I finally found a community I could fully embrace which compelled me to stick around. I had felt like this was the beginning of the WoW experience I had dreamed of from Wrath to Legion, but was kept frustratingly out of reach by arbitrary restrictions on player freedom.

There is a middle ground to be found here where players can create the stories they want in a world we all love, without dictating how the overarching plot has to go. Please don’t take those options away, Blizzard.

8 Likes

This was an addon I was nervous of for awhile–but once I used it, I really enjoyed it and it made RP a lot of fun for my groups at events! I really enjoyed it, and I’ve met new people across faction that I’ve both RPed and PvE’ed with. It’s opened up more of the actual GAME to me by helping me get a community on both sides of the faction fence. RP keeps me in the game and keeps my subbed in lulls as well. I have been subbed since the first month of WoW, and I can say without RP I definitely would not have been subbed this whole time.

I appreciate all the time and effort that went in to CrossRP, and I’m hopeful that we’ll get a resolution that works for everyone.

7 Likes

I agree, its a shame. Blizzard has become known for its no fun routine, as soon as anyone tries to take it away from them, Blizzard slaps down that big ol’ no fun sign and tries to fix it, which results in the game breaking even more.

Let’s not jump to conclusions. This probably was an oversight in their development team fixing a different issue.

3 Likes

I was skeptical of the addon at first but came to love it and what it brought to the table. It was key in the interlinking between myself and a few others in a recent character story, and without it, the same sort of easy going magic that it brought is really missed.

Here’s hoping Blizzard listens, and that it was just a mistake. Even if it wasn’t, allowing the functionality of this addon would be ideal. We’re not a big group of the WoW population, but we’re probably the most devoted fan base. We’re just asking for one thing at this point.

8 Likes