They are thinking of using sharding in wow classic...fuck blizz
Situationally and only at the beginning. It makes a great deal of sense. They do this on RP servers as it is and it works well during very select and limited times.
I know some purists will be pissed about even occasional sharding but, if we're being completely honest with ourselves about the outlook for WoW Classic's population, sharding makes a lot of sense. When Classic launches you're going to see a flood of millions of players hit the servers. But after that initial rush subsides, how many people people will continue to play consistently? Nobody knows for sure, but this is what I'm guessing will happen:
Classic Launches - between 2 million and 4 million players create characters and start playing.
Six months post launch - between 250 thousand and 500 thousand players are still playing.
So what is Blizzard supposed to do? If they don't shard, they'll need to create dozens of additional servers, most of which will likely end up being dead servers within the first year, and Classic will essentially be ruined. No, sharding is the best move here. When the initial hype settles down, they can then stop sharding and then we'll end up with a smaller number of servers that are decently populated.
Until Classic launches its hard to say what the population will be like long term, the big question, or perhaps the only question is how it will affect the 'BfA' population, not just in terms of players switching from one to the other, but given how low the population of BfA has brought the game, if it turns out that classic has a higher and more stable population than BfA, then maybe it only becomes one of resource allocation.
They are thinking of using sharding in wow classic...fuck blizz
Situationally and only at the beginning. It makes a great deal of sense. They do this on RP servers as it is and it works well during very select and limited times.
I know some purists will be pissed about even occasional sharding but, if we're being completely honest with ourselves about the outlook for WoW Classic's population, sharding makes a lot of sense. When Classic launches you're going to see a flood of millions of players hit the servers. But after that initial rush subsides, how many people people will continue to play consistently? Nobody knows for sure, but this is what I'm guessing will happen:
Classic Launches - between 2 million and 4 million players create characters and start playing.
Six months post launch - between 250 thousand and 500 thousand players are still playing.
So what is Blizzard supposed to do? If they don't shard, they'll need to create dozens of additional servers, most of which will likely end up being dead servers within the first year, and Classic will essentially be ruined. No, sharding is the best move here. When the initial hype settles down, they can then stop sharding and then we'll end up with a smaller number of servers that are decently populated.
Until Classic launches its hard to say what the population will be like long term, the big question, or perhaps the only question is how it will affect the 'BfA' population, not just in terms of players switching from one to the other, but given how low the population of BfA has brought the game, if it turns out that classic has a higher and more stable population than BfA, then maybe it only becomes one of resource allocation.
I think Blizzard would make retail more classic like if that's what the winds we're telling them.
They are thinking of using sharding in wow classic...fuck blizz
They are literally only using it for the launch on only the beginner zones.
How would you solve this problem? Just let 1500 horde start in valley of trials?
Of all the fun stuff from first and second gen games, jamming hundreds or thousands into starting zones early one isn't one of them. The packed feeling is fun, up to a point, until it's not then everything sucks.
If they're smart they'll load those down so they feel a little heavy. That would replicate the feeling, and competition for mobs and resources, without crippling servers, clients, and connections.
Completely agree, the demo felt too empty. They need to fatten up the volume that starter zone shards hold.
They are thinking of using sharding in wow classic...fuck blizz
They absolutely HAVE to use it in the starter zones. There will be literally zero mobs otherwise and people will be sitting there at level 2 because everytime a boar pops 20 people nuke it in the hopes they get the tag on it.
If you ever played an EQ progression server, you would know this. EQ phinigel server had 30 shards (they called them pickzones) in Unrest (a popular zone 10-25 or so) and a LOT more people are gonna be playing WoW classic. There will be 60 shards of barrens on that server for months.
RIP Ribbitribbitt you are missed, kid.
Currently Playing EVE, ESO
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.
What add-ons can do has changed over the years and have become much more sophisticated as authors have gained years of experience and savvy. We’re not 100% on a concrete solution to what this means for WoW Classic yet, but one thing we know is that we’re not going to roll all the way back to the 1.12 add-on API. Doing so would open the way for nearly complete automation of combat decision making allowing for “bot” behavior that is counter to the core WoW gameplay experience. This is one thing we know we don’t want. On the other end of the spectrum, the modern API offers some additional functionality for creating social features that could also undermine the authentic classic experience. We’re still figuring out the details and looking for a good middle ground. We’ll be keeping a close eye on feedback from the community and add-on authors on where we should be setting those boundaries.
When WoW first came out I remember always tabbing out to a website (thotbot?) to get quest information on mob drops for quests, etc. I didn't even look into add-ons until the arena. I also was a keyboard turner until the arena. The arena changed a lot for me. But, until I try I am not sure how I feel or am able to handle not knowing where quests are, what mobs drop what quest item, etc.
Does modern wow have a functional base UI? That always killed me - having to always have to install a UI mod to have it function like every other game when it is supposed to be the premier mmorpg. I'd much rather run this with no add-ons, so I'm hoping if modern wow has a modern UI with movable and resizable hotbars they will include that baseline. That's all I really care about and the only functionality I absolutely need to be able to play normally.
Anyone know if only alliance has paladins and horde for shamans?
Edit - I haven't been this excited for a new mmorpg in a long time. Even if this isn't new, its good to feel this again.
Comments
"Be water my friend" - Bruce Lee
Completely agree, the demo felt too empty. They need to fatten up the volume that starter zone shards hold.
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.
They absolutely HAVE to use it in the starter zones. There will be literally zero mobs otherwise and people will be sitting there at level 2 because everytime a boar pops 20 people nuke it in the hopes they get the tag on it.
If you ever played an EQ progression server, you would know this. EQ phinigel server had 30 shards (they called them pickzones) in Unrest (a popular zone 10-25 or so) and a LOT more people are gonna be playing WoW classic. There will be 60 shards of barrens on that server for months.
RIP Ribbitribbitt you are missed, kid.
Currently Playing EVE, ESO
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.
Dwight D Eisenhower
My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.
Henry Rollins
If you want to see what a really weird and wonderful event looks like. Try to be part of it.
This have been a good conversation
When WoW first came out I remember always tabbing out to a website (thotbot?) to get quest information on mob drops for quests, etc. I didn't even look into add-ons until the arena. I also was a keyboard turner until the arena. The arena changed a lot for me. But, until I try I am not sure how I feel or am able to handle not knowing where quests are, what mobs drop what quest item, etc.
Does modern wow have a functional base UI? That always killed me - having to always have to install a UI mod to have it function like every other game when it is supposed to be the premier mmorpg. I'd much rather run this with no add-ons, so I'm hoping if modern wow has a modern UI with movable and resizable hotbars they will include that baseline. That's all I really care about and the only functionality I absolutely need to be able to play normally.
Anyone know if only alliance has paladins and horde for shamans?
Edit - I haven't been this excited for a new mmorpg in a long time. Even if this isn't new, its good to feel this again.