Basically if you tell players you do not want to fragment the playerbase, it evokes the same feelings as if you said “you are not allowed to play with us”.
The thing is, players do have very different tastes. If someone like to play Wrath, they will most likely not play any of the 3 Classic versions (which in itself does fragment the playerbase among 3 variants of the same content) or Cata which is basically a version of retail with less content and a different Warchief (yes there are removed or changed quest which I also care very much about, but I am not yet done with Wrath in the same regard).
Shutting down Wrath once again after 2010 (Wasn’t fragmentation the same argument back in the day?) would not prevent player fragmentation, it would only prevent Wrath players from playing WoW.
Many players play Classic versions, because they want to play the old game and the first two expansions (me included) specifically. There are also those players who like to play the server progression, including Cata and beyond, again (me included, too).
Cata Classic will not suffer when Wrath players quit, because many retail players may be interested in Cata Endgame. But Wrath players will not have an alternative without Wrath Era.
With Retail it is always about playing the new stuff. But with Classic, nostalgia motivates us to pick the old expansion we currently like to play most. An online game however makes us reliant on these decisions about server availability, that’s why it is so frustrating to ask for Wrath Era.
These reasons I care about make Wrath unique compared to Classic or Cata/Retail:
It is the only expansion the Battle of Undercity is available (as well as other proto-scenarios like OP Gnomeregan or Zalazane)
In terms of content it is the most complete version of the original world (Including Venomhide Ravasaur, Dark Iron Pillow Quest, but also from BC Blood Elf / Draenai additions, Dustwallow updates and many more changed quests)
Hitting level 80 you basically have the whole world for yourself, without any barriers you can explore any classic Dungeon or Raid solo and seamlessly (Alternatively, Classic Era could at least add a solo explorer buff, that could be active whenever entering a dungeon or a (restrictions lifted) raid without a group).
The only two things that are missing are Naxxramas and questlines involving Bolvar (Diplomat, Masquerade). But these could be re-added with he old raid portal and phasing.
Even with low population Wrath Era servers could contribute to game preservation as “museum servers”. Many new players might be curious to check it out as well.
Of course just like the quest content, the class design feel most polished before many RP mechanics got removed.
Please add a few new Wrath Era servers for our chars to transfer to!
If you must, restrict those during the first Cata phase(s), by only give access to players who have at least one level 80 char in Wrath Classic.
Reiterating paraphrasing what I’ve said in the past.
The every 2-year or so, new expansion, business model has created 10 demographical mouths to feed, from Vanilla to Dragonflight; soon to be 11 if retail is getting a new expansion.
That’s 11 different kinds of WoW players to have to cater to and design around. It’s a hole they keep digging themselves into that in time, they finally won’t be able to get out from.
Addendum to drinky: Wasn’t me that snitched on you but you obviously had it coming.
Do you honestly think a wotlk server that never restarts would be profitable or worth maintaining??
Like I see priv servers doing it because it’s treated like a diablo or poe season and has that restart which gives people that fresh restart that people crave.
I just don’t think a permanent wotlk server would accomplish anything.
Wotlk classic proved how bad it was, my opinion is valid.
My opinion above isn’t me trolling, it’s my opinion of classic wotlk.
Only Dragonflight and Season of Discovery require any real development resources. Vanilla, TBC, WotLK and Cata have already been developed. Giving players options is a good thing, because no matter what they will be playing a Blizzard game.
If you are throwing tantrums and saying you are gonna quit because you aren’t getting your way, why would anyone invest anything into that kind of attitude ? They give you what you want and then don’t support it like you think they should and you throw a tantrum and quit, now the 12 people they made the server for, have rage quit. Not a good strategy.
All you need to concern yourself with is that I played Lich King and Cata originally and I can discern for myself the differences as they are going to vary between the interpretations
of players, and I’ve been over them countless times.
I’m just not a fan of the Cata system, that is all.
Wrath and Cata are much more similar than vanilla and wrath. The argument that Cata is the start of “retail” is disingenuous. But people made their opinions based on their favorite streamer’s opinion and you can not change that.