Solving the MASSIVE Classic+ Server Problem

WoW Classic Season of Discovery
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Hi WoW forum bros,

One of the biggest missteps in SoD was the original decision to launch with FOURTEEN different servers, between NA, US, OCE, PvP, and PvE. This meant that when the hype died down, many players were stranded on “dead” servers and were forced to transfer or create new characters entirely.

The large number of servers killed guilds, it added a lot of friction when trying to play with your friends, and it generally meant that the awesome SoD P1 fizzled out faster than it should have.

So what can Classic+ do? There are some options:

OPTION 1: Do the exact same thing as always. Blizz has their playbook, and their playbook is to keep doing launches with several servers. EU…NA…PvP…PvE. Realistically even if they do everything they can to limit servers, there will be a minimum of 4 because of regions and PvP/PvE.

We may have to accept this is the best we can get, even if it means 20-30 layers per server.

OPTION 2: Classic+ can launch with one megaserver with many layers, and War Mode as an option. That way everyone is always on the same server at all times, and no players are lost when a server “dies” after the initial hype is over.

However, there will likely be 30 or 40 layers, and it is possible the technology is not there yet for a massive megaserver in the first place, requiring valuable dev work be used on something that isn’t new content.

OPTION 3: OSRS-style server browser. You log in, you pick from a list of 15 servers. Your character is shared across all servers. If you want to play PvP for the day, you can do it. Or if you want to PvE. Or if you want to attend a big event, you can select the server for that event. Everyone is always within a click from playing with each other

What do you guys think is the best solution for Classic+ and future Classic launches?

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Preface: I know little about the logistics of server implementation and maintenance.

I think the best way would be to open one mega server and a few hard capped servers (delineated with PVE/PVP/RP). Then if the smaller cap servers fill up, open more as necessary. Personally I would rather Warmode, because I do want to toggle world pvp, but I know there are arguments against it.

This way people who want the large pop experience have that, but there are options for those that want a more intimate experience as well.

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Somehow you missed the most realistic solution: Just have less servers at launch.

Season of Discovery definitely didn’t need two RP-PVP realms. They shot for the moon, and when you’re distributing players, all that does is burn the subscribers when their realm abruptly dies for reasons they had no control over.

Classic PvP isn’t high octane enough that you need west and east coast PvP servers. Classic raiding definitely doesn’t require you to have under 60ms.

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One PvP megaserver
One PvE megaserver

EZ

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This solution is what seems to keep happening. Crusader Strike became the megaserver, and then the hard capped servers were Wild Growth, Lava Lash, etc. The issue is the game systems break down if there aren’t enough players. Those people on the niche intimate servers will regret it when the game has less hype

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1 NA mega server
1 EU mega server

Add war mode. Easy answer. If you want to pvp turn on the pvp toggle and fight other players that want to pvp.

No more “I don’t like open world pvp but my friends and the other good players are all rolling on the pvp server” problems.

No more problems like on sod horde wild growth NA where it’s a complete ghost town and if you were horde on that server you can’t even play the game anymore.

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Agreed. However accepting this reality from the beginning would benefit the evolution. CS became a megaserver but it didn’t start that way. Start with a megaserver and intimate servers, offer one-time free server transfers from the outset.

Personally I would roll on the mega server, I only even include the smaller servers due to my nostalgia for Vanilla’s small server experience and respect for those who preserve it.

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This is probably the solution, but it will have 30 layers if Classic+ is hot. So 30 layers means you won’t really have that private server feeling at all.

What about one megaserver where you can pick your “layer” from the login menu? And you have a 15min cd on swapping. Basically the runescape server browser

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I thought about this, it could be a descent idea.

One issue tho is the city chat in megaservers carries through to all layers. I don’t know if y’all ever play on Anni Nightslayer, but the city chat there is ridiculous. It moves 100mph, there is absolutely no chance that you could reasonably expect anyone to see anything you are selling or buying. No reason to even turn it on. That situation would have to be rectified. They streamlined LFG with the minimap tool, maybe they do the same for Trade?

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The base idea of being able to play content with any other player at any time is my main thing. Literally any player anywhere

How they do it, I am flexible on. Warmode, expanded PVP safe zones, PVP vs PVE exclusive layers, etc…we should all be able to play together, particularly in instanced/shared content

At the end of the day dividing the community via hard server walls has got to go

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I fully agree, no more split playerbase. It worked when WoW was the king of gaming, but every other modern game has ways to play with anyone ie Fortnite.

I think the PvE and PvP layers solution really is the way to go. Essentially warmode. But I think there are better ways to do warmode than how blizz did it before. The runescape server browser solution seems to be the way

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No get your BOAR mode out of here. Just make PvE and PvP realms and allow people to group in instances/BGs cross server.

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No, boaring answer. All you BOAR mode babies can just play retail.

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War mode was a great add. I hope they do that.

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War mode and mega servers are garbage

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No.
/10char

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What about war mode, but it’s done differently. On the login screen, you press PVE server or PVP server. You can switch between the two at will on a 15min timer. But your character is on both. It’s like a fancier and more sophisticated layer system

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100%. I do hesitate on specifically “Warmode” somewhat because we know most people will flip it off. It’s not really in the classic vein, either. Flipping on and off PVP at will.

I would love if they could find a way to essentially have everyone on the same PVP server but create avenues to avoid relentless ganking for people less interested in PVP

PVP is a part of the classic vibe as it fosters that horde vs alliance tension and does teach people to learn basic PVP so they can fight back

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I think they should start out with 2 PvP Mega Servers and 2 PvE Mega Servers and add more or merge later on if needed.

Also I think War Mode and Player/Guild Housing should be avoided at all costs, I agree with pretty much everything else on that Classic+ survey except for Transmog but don’t consider that game breaking like war mode and player housing. Being against anything else on that Survey is just that stupid #nochanges Classic Andy purest nonsense. Classic WoW is shrinking and is not getting any new players so they have to change it up a lot.

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Still no.
Warmode absolutely always ends World PVP. The faction with advantage pressures players into giving up and swapping off of warmode.
Both sides are riddled with cowards who will take the opportunity to gank when they outnumber, but will quickly head to an inn and relog off of warmode when they don’t.

It’ll end up being all of one faction on warmode and the other off warmode until they have to do a terrible incentive program like retail.

There is literally no winning argument in favor of warmode the upholds the integrity of genuine world pvp.

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