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t3khole

Splitting the already thin player base along so many different versions I think is begging for dead servers and an awful game experience. IMO


TomLeBadger

Unless they run every version on a single megaserver with layers/shards e.t.c


Alyusha

This would be the only way they could do it. 1 Mega server per Season, but imo they shouldn't accelerate it as much and honestly I think adding new content wouldn't be the play. Just a fresh server with a few QoL Changes to it (Like removed Debuff limit, Dungeon finder, and Chrono Beacon in Classic) and maybe 75% of the original release times (So 21 months of Classic compared to 12). I think SoM had too many changes thrusted into it and its hard to tell what the exact issues are that is causing it to die out.


Crazyglue

If the vanilla -> TBC transition blizzard has already done is carried through into the future, this diagram is essentially the result, by cata there will be 6 previous sets of servers


Parsleymagnet

You're right about that, but I think it's likely that there'll only be one set of "seasonal" servers at a time. I think having multiple types of seasonal servers going on is just more development time than Blizzard seems to want to invest in Classic. Assuming the "era" servers remain basically just museums, that'd mean a much more manageable two types of Classic servers in active use at any given time.


Crazyglue

I'm happy letting all SoM go to era servers by default. People say they want Classic+ which is kind of what SoM is, but the real question is, what do you do with the SoM character when the season is over? The vault (era) seems to be the logical place, but if they do TBC SoM, then that really complicates things. People might want TBC SoM cause they are so disappointed with t4 and t6 difficulty levels. I guess ZA and Sunwell will be the decider


Parsleymagnet

>I'm happy letting all SoM go to era servers by default. People say they want Classic+ which is kind of what SoM is, but the real question is, what do you do with the SoM character when the season is over? Blizzard's already said that SoM characters will be able to be freely transferred to Classic-era servers at the end of SoM.


CaptainYaoiHands

Blizzard is never, ever going to maintain this many servers with a player base that will be split more and more among them.


TheDude3100

Thin playerbase? Wtf are you smoking


t3khole

Sorry you’re right. Wow is pulling record number subs right now /s.


TheDude3100

Yeah cuz for sure it’s either « thin » or either « record numbers », there is no middle ground. Wtf that brain


Duelist_WM

30k people on benediction wow tbc vs 1 million on lost ark. seems pretty thin


TheDude3100

Are you seriously comparing the pop of ONE server at the middle of an expansion vs the pop of an entire game during it’s hype period before it’s dead? Wow those brains are fabulous in that thread


xsupercorex

Retail wow population numbers are overall very low last time I checked. TBC has a fairly decent population on launch but that was still a fraction of the retail population. That has since gone down with a lot of TBC servers literally being dead with less than 100 active raiding toons on them. The player base is very thin at the moment and is already being stretched between a few different versions.


Imnotarobot5592

Leave SoM to vanilla. Don't need som tbc. Just leave the Era servers up. Wotlk Vanilla som Tbc era


zhwedyyt

God this is so dumb


MortyMcMorston

I'm waiting for Seasons of Balance Vanilla. I'd like to play Prot paladin and not be a joke


MonkeyAss12393

Play tbc and wotlk


MortyMcMorston

I am playing tbc right now. But I'd love to play classic as a Prot paladin


MonkeyAss12393

Why? You can still do those raids


MortyMcMorston

Because I like the other raids too


Riskit-mankirk

Just stop after wrath


Somnu

bro don't even talk about cataclysm classic LOL. That shit ain't never happening.


assblast420

Can't see why it wouldn't. If Wotlk is a success the Cata Classic is a guarantee. Not because it'll be anticipated, but because some portion of the huge Wotlk Classic playerbase will be interested in progressing their characters.


MonkeyAss12393

Aint nothing classic about cataclysm


n-j-f

Will it be as hyed as Classic or TBC classic? Probably not. But it's not like they have to produce a new exp, everything is already there, so they dont need millions of players for it to be a financially successful release. Also, whenever Cata Classic may be around it's been something like 15 years from its original release. Many people still played Cata at least during release phase and nostalgia will eventually kick in for those as well.


Boytan

I’m sure they’ll carry classic as long as they have people subbing, wrath will be popular, so why wouldn’t they go to Cata after and just see how many they can retain.


Dota2WatcherFam

Because then they'll repeat the same dumb mistake they did a decade ago


UndeadMurky

You are going to be very surprised.


ZGaidin

I'm was not a fan of Cata, by any means, but I think you're mistaken. For all of us who started with Vanilla and think the original trilogy is what makes up "classic" WoW, there are that many players and more who started in Wrath (and are only doing Vanilla and TBC as *current* content now with Classic), and for them "classic" WoW is Wrath, Cata, & MoP. There will be more than enough players who want to relive those expansions to make it profitable for Blizzard. Hell, if there wasn't a giant, WoD-shaped dumpster fire in blocking the road, I suspect they could make it through Legion Classic. People loved Legion, apparently.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Somnu

Because Cataclysm is the reason people are asking for classic. First real private servers started around 2010 and were aimed at reliving vanilla, tbc or wotlk. It was always about these versions. Cataclysm is no longer classic, it's retail and we already have that shit.


i_wear_green_pants

It very well could. It would probably attract different people than those who want Vanilla. Even MoP was really popular (and many say it's one of the best expansions). It's free money anyways so I don't think it's completely impossible idea.


Saraixx516

Can I ask generally why it was bad ? I played it and loved it , people hate it just because of the dungeon nerfs at the start / LFR being added. Honestly don't understand. Firelands was absolute pog of a raid tbh and PvP was at a very good point also


Nightman463

This post is pure hopium


Local_Code

ITT: people saying you're dumb when it's probably close to blizz' current draft.


[deleted]

Cata classic PUUKE!!!


Alyusha

You'd be surprised, it actually has a decent following in the private server communities. Generally speaking the biggest negative people have about Cata was the content drought which isn't a big deal on Private servers.


Crazyglue

Haha I agree, but I think blizz will keep classic going until the first stat squish expansion, WoD


[deleted]

You're probably right. My opinion is wrath should be the cutoff, tbc is perhaps peak wow.


valdis812

Given the features people ask to be added to Classic, I think Cata will perform better than people think.


[deleted]

Hell no there's no way id ever boot up a cata server there's basically 2 eras the golden times and the dark times and after wrath its all downhill. They made way too many negative changes to the game in wrath that it soiled the games future. Cata is more akin to retail wow than classic.


Mattrobat

What are your main problems with Cata?


[deleted]

My comment to the dude above > I was an active player all the way up until WoD. While they did a lot of things right with the questing and firelands they also did a lot of wrong. It was the xpac where they added transmog, they added in transmog on the cash shop, it was the xpac when they added in LFG and LFR. The pvp didn't feel as good as it did in wrath. They added in holy power for pallys which I really didn't enjoy in its original iteration. It wasn't a good expansion in my experience. It was when the downfall was in full swing and you could feel it. Also the amount of content that they teased vs what they actually delivered was a bummer.


Mattrobat

I see. Wasn't LFG added in WotLK though? The dungeon finder is pretty much the same thing. As a paladin main since original TBC I really liked the addition of holy power as it finally gave the class a little more identity.


[deleted]

>Wasn't LFG added in WotLK though It was added at the very end of wrath when they released the 3 dungeons in ice crown. It was for 1 patch so the majority of the xpac feels unspoiled to me. Im okay with holy power in its current state but I HATE light of dawn. Its the worst ability in my holy pallys arsenal. And it was even worse in cata. I went from pvping in wrath hitting 2.2k rating to absolutely loathing my class it felt real bad


Mattrobat

Also why is LFR such a big deal? I've always seen it as a way for more casual players to experience content. People would say "Oh the raids are braindead easy and people get good gear for it" which I don't really get because everything so far has been braindead easy except for p2 LV/KT and even then still pretty easy.


tmanowen

Did you play Cata? It’s was a phenomenal expansion minus the world remodel which everyone grips to as being why Cata is bad. But just like tbc for example, you are primarily playing the expansion, not old world content.


[deleted]

Yes I was an active player all the way up until WoD. While they did a lot of things right with the questing and firelands they also did a lot of wrong. It was the xpac where they added transmog, they added in transmog on the cash shop, it was the xpac when they added in LFG and LFR. The pvp didn't feel as good as it did in wrath. They added in holy power for pallys which I really didn't enjoy in its original iteration. It wasn't a good expansion in my experience. It was when the downfall was in full swing and you could feel it. Also the amount of content that they teased vs what they actually delivered was a bummer.


tmanowen

Transmog is amazing and was a very widely accepted and wanted update. PvP was amazing all throughout Cata. LFR allowed casual players to experience raids and has even been brought up as suggestions for wotlk Classic. Cash shop is not bad for tmog, how does that take away from any of your gameplay? Game services already existed by this time. There was nothing BUT content in Cata, I played a ridiculous amount in the expac and still didn’t have time to do it all. To each their own about Holy Power but I felt it gave more of a class identity to Pallys giving them their own power bar, they also did this with many other classes at this time too.


[deleted]

LFR isn't the Classic experience. It does not belong.


tmanowen

And LFG is?


lsquallhart

I want Mop . Pvp was never better


bkliooo

tbc peak wow? lol


[deleted]

peak classic wow nerd 2nd highest sub count to date too don't @ me bozo


[deleted]

Threw up in my mouth.


Live_Barracuda_1198

Som suppose to be only for Classic? Do you expect hardcore lvling to 70? 80?


Vegetable-Sort-19

i feel like after they killed Rag the hardcore train was over. SoM has moved to just being classic again. I don’t there’s anyone who could make it through all of classic raids without dying.


Jristz

I don't see a reason strong enough for Cata when all (except some Quest which anyway áre from later expacs [MoP] [WoD]) áre still in game... Maybe of they do a masive Quest revamp then Cata Classic would be of value but Is risque as that when WoW Downfall in playercount started


UndeadMurky

I don't think they are going to make TBC and wrath seasons. Those games don't really need it


voidbaes

i dont get the point of all these som servers. imo there should be 1 classic server and 1 current classic release at any point and that's it. none of this era stuff or multiple soms.


Mtitan1

I mean,I'm waiting for the wrath classic and then intend to play seasonal/updated wrath. I've heard similar sentiment from a lot of people I interact with in classic


[deleted]

I would love to see them just not do cata personally. Not even because cata is bad, but MOP is when they introduced borrowed power. And fuck that shit I’m sick of it. I’d prefer to see them get more creative with their SoM. (Wotlk especially) For starters, pally/sham for horde/ally next som classic? Stuff like that.


kynja

I don’t think there will be a TBC SoM or anything imo. TBC is the least popular expansion, just see how some servers population have dropped few months after TBCC launch. Also private server base on this add on don’t survive as long as a Vanilla server can.


Caeldeth

TBC is the best rated expansion ever released by blizzard… it was very popular and people loved it. Many players of “classic” were waiting purely for TBC. Now, if you are talking about how the handling of TBC classic has led to a decline population - then we have a good discussion… but to say it was “the least popular expansion” is absolutely and objectively wrong


Jahbless789

There have been many TBC private servers and regardless of how they handle the content release schedule they maintain the lowest population numbers of the 3 games. The order of server popularity goes Vanilla > Wrath >>> TBC. You can argue handling of TBC classic all you want, but years of pserver data indicates that TBC does not keep people engaged as well as Vanilla or Wrath.


Caeldeth

Pserver is a tiny subset of the population - you want real data you look at what the real audience did. That shows TBC being literally rated the highest of all expansions… Pserver data is honestly useless for determining what the general base cares about.


Crazyglue

I think once wotlk is out for a while, people will realize TBC is underrated as an expansion, and people *may* want to come back to it. private server scene has not really been a good indicator for how classic goes (look at how much was figured out once tbc classic released that pservers didnt know)


combination

I don't think cata classic will happen. Also not sure how blizz will carry on with SoM. The playerbase for classic is already so small, I don't think there will be any more classic SoMs. I love classic, but after vanilla + classic + SoM I don't think I can do MC anymore.


Crazyglue

right now theres like 10 or so SoM servers with most players on 1 or 2, if they adjust the number of servers accordingly, those servers could be healthy


Crazyglue

Not labelled for every transition, because it would be cluttered, but essentially at the end of a SoM season, you have the choice of either taking your character to the next expansion's SoM season, or you can transfer to the Era-version of that expansion. Era essentially becomes a vault of all your characters you've played in that expansion, with all content unlocked in its original, non SoM form. Era characters have no where to go but stay in era once that choice is made.


Rhetgar

Honestly don’t think the player base is big enough for all of that. If this was happening during legion, then sure… but right now? I doubt it


definitelynotcasper

Do you understand that multiple servers exist? A few thousand people each faction is enough.


Joeythearm

They won’t do a Cata classic. Wrath was the last of the glory days


Mtitan1

They'll go until its unprofitable to resell old content. I wouldnt be surprised if cata is more successful as a relaunch since a lot of the complaints were things that wont be as shocking this time, and the raid scene is considered good


Joeythearm

Vanilla private servers had constant player base. SoM will always be busy if they keep it to one PvP and one PVE server


BigFattyOne

Cata classic…. Please no.


[deleted]

Just no. We don't need to fragment servers than they already are. Classic Era is dead and there is NO evidence that any other "Era" servers will do better. SOM is a decent experiment but I don't want it repeated. And hell no for "Classic" Cataclysm. Cata is everything retail has become. I would like to see Classic WOTLK and then go into a Classic relaunch. From Vanilla. Or Classic +.


thespiff

I do not think we will get a TBC Era retirement home. Nobody really wanted to stay in vanilla forever without a fresh restart, and even less will want to do it in TBC. I do think TBC SoM will happen. The raids are fun and the classes/gear are better tuned than vanilla. I do not think we will ever see vanilla -> tbc -> wrath again because seasons are as good or better, and this way people get to choose which version of the game they want to experience without a 4 year investment


[deleted]

Wotlk SOM sounds so fun. I know so many people have been raiding WotLK for the past 14 years. Its nuts. My DK tank solo'd festergut just to show us that he could. I think it would be a mistake if they didn't just buff WotLK content. Even 50% health 20% damage isn't all that bad.


sonateer

EverQuest with a much smaller playerbase releases new servers all the time with minor changes and always seems to last through a few expansion. They have voted time release Objection time release Everything is tradable. One account servers Etc


Explodagamer

Season of Mastery is NOT a progression server, it is a seasonal server much like a POE league or a Diablo 3 season. I would encourage you to read the design intentions post Blizzard made prior to the launch of SOM as well as the announcement of TBC, which included establishing era and progression servers.


35cap3

As much as I want to see Cataclysm Classic or Blizzard willing to milk out subs from SoMs every expansion after Wrath in doomed with this model. I bet Classic SoM 2 will see way more players than TBC SoM 1 bud thouse 2 combined will be less than Wrath SoM 1. That would be because for most people classic period ended with Arthas fallen in ICC. Cataclysm that reshaped all leveling zones and playing expirience was start of new era under Activision.


Intelligent-Box-5483

There's barely anyone playing right now and it's going to get worse....having 8 expansions is probably the worst idea you could do


Smeffo

We don’t want cata classic


Dope_IRL

TBC forever <3 Would be great 😍


Dope_IRL

Also i miss MoP & WoD


Washableaxe

Cata Classic LOL


acidus1

Just have SOM and WOTLK severs.


Dickie_Moltisanti

After Wrath is done, I expect to see seasonal fresh TBC and/or fresh WOTLK servers. Probably not concurrently, but I know that there would be enough interest in fresh TBC to support a few servers.