Keeps players “at home” within the region so that’s a win as far as I’m concerned for the community on OCE servers.
I realize that’s a suggestion that runs counter to the server identity however it is a possible help to get bg games running steadily and same with dungeons though it is an option that the community can decide to support or not.
I mean, maybe I’m missing a fundamental thing here - but can you explain why having flex raids would negatively impact on the community and the game itself? I’m not saying it doesn’t have an element of change, but I’d love to get your perspective on the negatives it’ll bring. Genuine question.
To do so objectively, we’d need to establish precisely what is meant by “negatively impact” and how we could measure that.
However for the purposes of this conversation I can say that in my personal, subjective opinion, 40 man raids are one of the most defining characteristics of Vanilla WoW; something that no expansion has.
Whether flex raids would have a positive or negative impact would have to be something determined and measured by Blizzard, just like whether the changes made thus far to any of the Classic series, including SoM have been positive or negative.
I can offer my opinion, but unless we set out guidelines for objective measurements and have access to data that can point to whether any changes have been positive or negative according to those measurements, then opinions are all we have, I suppose.
Sure, I agree that 40 man raids are a defining point of Vanilla WoW. But again, this is Seasonal - I really feel like there needs to be a clear delineation there. It’s not Vanilla, it’s not retail, it is it’s own thing.
But I’m just looking for some level of understanding as to why people who are adverse to this idea, are adverse to this idea. Beyond “that’s the way its always been”. Just a little confused about some of the responses (not specifically yours) stone-walling the idea and wanted to understand if there was something I’m missing.
Edit: Sorry didn’t answer your question regarding criteria. I guess I’m talking about game-breaking, something that would make the game less-enjoyable for the wider community.
This wasn’t the issue for oceanic, the issue was that guilds were dying rapidly and their guildies were just quitting. When you lose a 40 man stack of players it hurts a lot more than a 25 group. Plus you can generally recruit more easily and find more guilds more easily when there is more of them.
well that’s sad but the solution isn’t to destroy the game
honestly, I’m done. I’m just done. Between people wanting to turn SoM2 into retail and blizzard not even communicating ANYTHING about the next season, it just feels like classic has run its course. You guys can have you stupid frankenstein game. Have fun. I’m going to go outside 
That’s probably for the best man, take sunnies <3
Personally I never liked 25 man raids, it’s an odd number.
IMO 30 would fit better, if it was a flex raid. But 40 man’s feel epic. Also no raid really requires 40.
We raided most of AQ40 with 30-35 players.
Typically 10-15 players carry a raid, so if the remainder aren’t terrible you’ll probably kill boss.
Try Green shell reptile
10 chars
Yep, been there with raiding 30-35 people. And sure, it’s well and good if you’ve got people who are committed and pumping - but having to scrape the barrel for people who aren’t going to put in the same effort etc etc is frustrating.
The fact that the 40 mans are being cleared with 30-35 doesn’t justify it staying at 40 imo (and I’m not saying that’s the point you’re making) - but if the raids are being done with sub-intended-numbers then why not just make them flex? I’d rather a flex of a random odd number with people who I know are keen to push and pump vs having to carry a bunch of people who are doing the bare minimum.
So flex raids are okay then lol?
I wouldn’t mind 30 mans, that would help gearing, and ease of guilds
Everyone’s preferred raid size can be met with flex raids 
The 40 fans can have their 40’s. Elacrun, you can have your 30’s mate. And anything in between can have their in between. Scale the loot drops accordingly, bam. Ez.
25m would be baller
I wanna play a balance druid and for everyone to be happy I’m there.
Slippery slope is a logical fallacy and it allows you distort arguments by tying everything you don’t like together. You know the people who think wearing a seatbelt is the first step to communism? That’s you.
Argue each change on it’s merit.
You will heal and you will like it!!!
this but unironically
Actually I don’t mind changes on seasonal, have at it. The problem occurs when these servers are assimilated into Era. People start wanting the changes they experienced in seasonal to be added to Era. That’s a huge nope in my opinion. Do whatever you like to those servers, but please let the people on Era have their old style RPG. You have three modes of this game already. Let us have the game we enjoy too. 
In my mind it’s more of a Classic+ , the place for changes. Like I stated above tho, do not expect or ask for these changes to follow you into Era after the seasonal servers close. Yes, people were asking for SoM changes to be introduced to Era.
NO!
the hyperbole is real
seasonal experimentation is fine calm down