I’m deeply interested in raiding and dungeon content, and unless I had some TBI before I stopped playing for a while, I’m still an okay tank! So, the question is, would I benefit more from making a character on a large realm (ie. Area-52) or a small one more suited to my RP interests (ED) and moonlighting as a member of the larger realms when I find a guild?
Similar question: how do guilds and auction houses work cross-realm? Thank you.
Guilds can be cross-server. You should absolutely join the highest population realm that meets your needs, there are pretty much no benefits to being on a low-population server.
Almost everything is merged now I can’t think of much of a reason aside from very specific AH items it doesn’t matter. Guilds are cross real. And cross faction now (RP realms might not be) I’m not sure though
This may be an odd question but how would I know which one meets my needs? Closest thing I can think of is: I enjoy RP servers but people’ve told me to avoid Emerald Dream so ???
This. There’s no such thing as a small or large server (anymore).
Do full server like Area 52 or Illidan or Stormrage
Moon Guard is the most active RP server and if you want to do both RP and raid then it’s even more important to join the largest server you can. Other reasons to join a larger server include the economy, as cross-server trading and crafting is still pretty restricted.
If you want to RP Horde then WRA is the place for you. If you want to RP Alliance then MG.
Crafting orders cannot go cross-realm unless they’re within your guild.
There are not many differences between server size, but the ones that remain REALLY matter. The only argument in favor of small ones is name availability, for everything else, large servers are unquestionably better.
Huh, fair point.
I can still harvest stuff and go to other (larger) realms to sell it, right?
All commodities are cross-server, both materials and consumables. Only individual items like BOE equipment and pets are per-server. They can still be transferred to other servers via the warband bank, but it’s a hassle to search them down if they aren’t available on your own server.
Crafting orders are incredibly important though, that’s how you get max-level gear made now.
Large realm by far. More peeps and you can join any guild anyhow
By putting stuff in your warbank you mean? And then having an alt of yours from another realm sell it on the AH? Yea but the realms are mostly all connected right now. You will notice very little difference all their mid-range servers (Battlegroups) were mostly merged but you will still find A52 and Illlidan to always be over ones like Scilla or the other realms no one has ever heard of like Dreanor. A52 and Illidan are not even in the same battlegroup. Illidan is Rampage battlegroup. A52 is Retaliation, yet those two have more in common now than most other realms do from the same battlegroups.
And Illidan Horde vs Illlidan Alliance feels like you are on two separate servers. It has never felt like you are on the same realm with a different faction there ever…
What about Emerald Dream? My name’s taken on WrA, unfortunately.
until the next big thing happens and you get flooded trade chat that no longer functions.
but any how, a Large Realm is over crowded and over saturated if you want to try and do a few profession things.
a Small Realm has too few people for professions.
a Medium sized realm on the larger end is the better choice imo
but possibly more important is where the realm is located on the real map.
closer servers, fewer hops, better ping, less chance of connection drops, that should be the higher focus than just realm size.
You can only join a guild on the opposite faction if you have a real ID friend in the guild who can invite you.
Area 52 trade chat is total mayhem, flooded with so many crafting and guild adverts. Sure, thats the purpose of the channel, but it is still a fact that can feel a bit overwhelming. And the opposite applies for small servers; you may find it difficult to get a custom order filled.
Emerald Dream is pretty active. Most of the RP happens in guilds, though, so if you want to RP your best bet is to find a guild rather than coming across it randomly. Not sure why people have told you to avoid it. Its been a great server for me the past 10 years 
I thought they only had Ally active and the MG was the biggest and most balanced of all the RP realms. Illidan Ally. Catnip, Warriors from Above. Guilds are xfaction now but trade chat is not so when lf a guild there must be Ally and ask in trade for one of those two. I have Ally pally there in a guild and Horde pally in another guild there so yea good realm. It is highest pop realm from time to time, when it is not then A52 overtakes Illidan.
If you mean as far as rp guilds, maybe. I dont see as many horde rp guilds, but I’d say overall, the horde population is more active on ED