Currently, layering in WoW Classic still helps to maintain gameplay enjoyment. However, Cortyn sees a big problem for the “endgame”.
World of Warcraft Classic has now been running for 3 weeks and slowly, at least the “big initial hype” is fading a bit. Although there are still waiting times on many realms during prime time and on weekends, they are no longer as severe as they were at launch. Waiting times of several hours have become just a few minutes in most cases.
However, I believe that the concept of larger realms with increased capacity will soon lead to a problem again: Not enough space for too many players.
Difference between Classic and Vanilla realms: Although World of Warcraft Classic is modeled after the original in almost all aspects, there is one huge difference: The capacity of the servers. Back then, a single realm could host only a few thousand players at the same time. Anyone attempting to log in had to queue.
We do not know the exact capacities of the current Classic realms, but Blizzard has said that they have “a multiple of the capacity of back then”. Back then, between 2,500 and 3,500 people could play on a realm at the same time – a relatively small number.
Too many players on a Classic realm?
The number was perfect, so there were never any major problems. The game world had an adequate size, allowing around 3,000 people to spread out and pursue their own goals. Of course, there were times when a popular farming spot for a resource was overcrowded. But that was an overpopulation of 5-10 players, still within an acceptable range, so at least one could get a little something.
With the “new” Classic servers, however, this will be difficult. It is obvious that these servers can accommodate many more players at the same time than was possible 15 years ago. Even without knowing the exact numbers, we can at least assume that 10,000 concurrent players are not a problem for the server – likely the number is even significantly higher.
But just because the realms can now support a larger number of players, it does not mean that the game world can as well.
Layering can lead to big problems
Once the layering system is completely abolished, these players will all share a game world that is highly limited in what it can offer players. Instead of having 100 players in the Eastern Plaguelands, there will be 300, 400 or 500 players. Resources in the form of enemies are limited here. When 2-3 players come to each mob, the fun of the game remains very limited.
My fear is that the chaos of the starting areas will repeat and solidify in the endgame.
The majority of players are thus stuck in the range of level 30 to 50. Here, the quest areas, despite layering, are still heavily farmed. A pleasant gameplay flow is only possible at many locations at night or early in the morning, unless one completely resorts to dungeons. In my guild, I keep hearing from players who lose their motivation to quest in the evenings because they have to fight over individual mobs even in a group, which drastically hinders gameplay enjoyment.
If this mass of players reaches level 60 and layering is permanently turned off, which is Blizzard’s stated goal, things will get tight. And very tight.
How will Blizzard solve the problem?
I am definitely curious to see how the chaos in the endgame areas will develop. And although I am currently having a lot of fun in Classic, I believe that we are heading towards a catastrophic state, for which there are currently only two solutions:
- Either layering remains active even into the later phases of the game.
- Or Blizzard “sits the problem out” until players lose interest because the endgame areas are completely overcrowded.
Honestly, I can’t really imagine either solution.
Maybe I am also overlooking the saving key or the yet-to-be-announced system that is meant to solve the problem.
But what do you think? Do you believe that this will all work in the endgame? Can classic WoW handle the increased player numbers?
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