It almost certainly will have a lower player count, but a player count so low that it’s unable to fill 3 realms would be quite the drop.
And, even if there are too few players, it would still be a solvable issue via a merge. We won’t know how popular these realms are until they launch, so why not launch an RP server to see how things go? Considering there are/will be three hardcore realms, I don’t feel like it’s an unreasonable request to make.
3 Likes
My fear is servers wont have the needed player base to sustain them if there are too many servers present on launch and that these problems will manifest themselves months down the road. It’s not solely about me or my server, it’s about the health of era/fresh. However, this is taken from my experience in era both on WMC and DD, SoD, and wotlk/cata classic. It is evident that most players want mega servers, give them what they want.
Like I said previously, if population is booming, then by all means introduce and RP and/or RP-PVP realms. But I think Blizz needs to prioritize longevity and sustainability first.
I think the first 3 versions of WoW have always been amazingly popular, and always brought folks back.
I definitely believe they are trying to capture that essence in a bottle, and I am glad for it. I personally did not get to see the content like I wanted to because of work, now work is more balanced and I get to have another shot again. I am also a sucker for the first 3 versions of the game.
I assume they have access to the real numbers and have seen enough people drop off after these favorable 3 to give reason to do Classic all over again.
Less than 3 more days to go, woohoo!
I am very much crossing my fingers for a lovely RPPVP community server, as I fear I will quickly lose interest on the PvP server.
3 Likes
I’d be more understanding of that worry if Blizzard didn’t have an immediate fix for such a situation, y’know? If 3 non-hc servers split the pop up too much, merge the rppvp and the pvp together. I’d be totally fine with that to preserve the life of the game, if necessary
1 Like
We did discuss having an RP realm launch at a later date, but the consensus from my understanding was that this would massively hurt the population due to players already being settled on other realms. An RP-PvP server would by far have the best chance if launched with the other two, which is one of the reasons why this thread has been so persistent in asking for it before Thursday comes around.
4 Likes
Fair enough. Looks like we agree kinda. I would rather be more reactive to a surplus player base; while you are more reactive to a dwindling player base.
Make the RPers suffer with the rest of the classic Andys.
I think reacting to a surplus is best done by appealing to as many audiences as possible from the get go. And then yeah, take appropriate measures to react to any negative consequences that come from any poor evaluation of your audiences wants.
1 Like
This is a genuine question but tell me about your RP experience. How does RP keep you involved, where you might get bored otherwise? What types of RP do you like to participate in? Tell me about your RP experience.
Also what do you plan to play in fresh?
I’m JK I like RP-PvP servers.
6 Likes
Roleplay allows for you to explore world of warcraft and the open world in ways that are not replicated on PVP servers a lot of the time. Even if it’s something as small as just walking around Duskwood with your friends late at night or having an RP event at the Crossroads under the Tree near the blacksmith and the Inn, you will end up having fun.
When Raidlogging was common in Classic’s release, the Rpers that I knew logged in pretty much every day to hang out with one another or visit brill for a few drinks. The world is something that you can make your own fun out of, rather than just following the Pathway of Level to 60 → Go raid → Log off when you’re done.
7 Likes
Regular vs RP servers is the difference between being able to do this kind of thing in theory versus having this happen in practice
It doesn’t mean you notice it all around you all the time, but if you’re trying to initiate, you nearly always find a receptive audience on the RP-PvP server because people knew what they were getting into when they signed up for it
4 Likes
I first started on PvE when I first joined WoW, a friend brought me there. Very kind people, pleasant community. Eventually those friends stopped playing and PvP server made me curious. I joined, my first flagged zone, definitely PvP jitters, and the first person I came across I believe was in the exact same boat as (looking back), I am not sure if you could call what button smashing, movement nonsense that was ‘PvP’, but it happened and I was hooked.
Joined some PvP guilds, still enjoyable folks. And to my fresh eyes, this was just another server.
Had a friend who was into RP convince me to switch to RPPVP server, sure, why not?
As a people watcher, it was actually quite pleasant. Instead of people in Skittle Armor walking around, they had designed outfits to lounge in the main cities.
Same race guilds would mount up and march through the cities, hold speeches, interact, have call to arms to defend or attack. Even if I was too shy to participate back in those days, I loved watching. It made the world feel alive, it was a great way to pass the time between forming parties or while I was fiddling in the Auction House.
Ravenholdt was my first server, and I have fond memories of it.
Eventually the friends got jobs or no longer played, and after a break I came back, and the popular server at the time was Tichondrius I believe. “THE” PvP server to be on.
What a culture shock, I suppose. Trade chat was ALWAYS angry. Always. It seemed like anything could start a fight, name calling, dancing on the edge of ToS breaking or just straight up broke it (no report system like now back then).
Everyone had a chip on their shoulder, the cities were full. Very full. But very quiet, if you know what I mean. Everyone just standing around waiting for their groups, waiting for a portal, or just AFKing.
Perhaps thats just the way of it with a high pop PvP server, but it wasn’t for me.
I moved back to RPPVP, and returned to that lively familiarity of the world. I tried out The Venture Co and Twisting Nether, which had very much a living, breathing world, with people creating Newsletters and Gazettes of the server’s roleplaying activities. Very well written.
One even had a double faction Bounty Hunting Guild. That worked together collecting bounties that people would place, and pay for.
The trade chats have people in character, advertising their wares, potions, lockpicking, enchanting, you name it. Are there trolls or people who pop up to pick fights? Always, you can’t get rid of them. Usually they would end up with vacations.
Another bonus I enjoy, is not having to see ‘Xxsephirothxx’ or ‘bigbootylover’ because they have to attempt to have RP sounding names, or get flagged for rename.
As a people watcher, I’ve noticed the difference, and it makes it a night and day difference for me.
I’ve seen what megapop PvP servers are like (and its current discord is an unmoderated wasteland of cringe.) and I don’t think I would enjoy being on it.
(Sorry for the ramble, I noticed I missed a few questions.)
10 Likes
The nice thing about RP PVP servers is the diversity of player experiences. People are more tolerant of goofy stuff, and more casual guilds than the normal pvp servers.
6 Likes
I have to agree about a lot of these points. Megaservers often have communities that aren’t nearly as kind as RPPVP servers. Even guilds such as who were rather large and carried themselves as Elite and skilled at raiding had a certain air of care and character acting in regards to how they did things such as the Scarab War or PVP initiatives.
4 Likes
Can you prove it won’t?
Roleplaying makes WoW feel like a truly social game; I love that I can walk into Stormwind on an RP realm and without fail come across new things happening as people interact in-character. It feels like you’re a part of a community; I don’t think I could ever return to playing on non-RP realms, honestly.
I also absolutely love being able to create a character with a distinct personality/backstory. Most characters have last names on RP servers via addons, which sounds like such a small thing but makes the world feel much more realistic.
7 Likes
The demand for RP-PVP isnt there for Classic on OCE or EU like it is on NA. And OCE will get pushed onto NA anyways.
Both regions had attempts of an rp server, and EU’s died in a fire on both 2019 classic and SOD.
2 Likes
Thank you for sharing.
2 Likes
For RP, I have 1-2 ‘serious’ characters that would fit the Grim Dark Fantasy Genre.
The easiest to RP are the silly ones, like this guy:
Welcome, welcome, you’ve come to the right place for wares, my friend! You are in the presence of Lord Andrew Lu’er, Entrepreneur and Salesman extraordinaire!
Might I interest you in the Deed to Thandol Span? Perhaps a [Dead Parrot Skeleton] to keep you company on your lonely days? Very quiet, doesn’t eat much!
And then his jaw pops out of socket now and then and he has to fix it 
As for class… Oh boy, I’m leaning towards melee, because I skipped it first Classic to try new classes, but not sure. 
7 Likes