Waiting to reroll
by Elizabeth Harper 
Jul 25th 2007 at 7:45PM
Blizzard, for its part, is holding to its stance that they'll release new realms when overall population requires it -- but until then, the best you're going to get is low population recommended realms. Vaneras thoroughly explains the situation for us: the fact that people enjoy playing on brand new realms just isn't a compelling reason for Blizzard to create new realms when existing realms have plenty of room to grow.
But what's the solution? Vaneras tell us that merging existing low-population servers in order to be able to open new realms isn't going to happen. (And I can understand why -- merging realms and then rolling out new realms is a lot of work by Blizzard's tech team, and essentially serves no purpose.) Vaneras suggests that you could get yourself organized and ready for new guilds on new realms, but that's probably little comfort. Some posters suggest a rerollers' realm of sorts -- a realm that resets every few months to offer players wanting an authentic rerolling experience a chance to race to 70 on a regular basis, without the need for any new realms. But what do you think? Do we need new realms? Is the fun of playing on a new realm enough of a reason for Blizzard to regularly deploy them -- even if they'll wind up ghost towns down the road, when players abandon them for other fresh realms?
Filed under: Virtual selves, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
fbp Jul 25th 2007 8:07PM
I started playing in January. On one of the new realms. I really also want to experience that again. I found that to be the most fun experience I had in WoW. Learning Heroics and Kara, can be fun, but also is stressful due to time constraints and the commitment involved. With little or no quests to do, its frustrating at level 70. Its just a rep grind.
I think they need a reroll server. Players create characters on there, and every 3 months or so the server "dies" and players are asked to transfer their characters either to a server they predesignated in creation process or to a low pop server. Heck have 3-4 servers and cycle them to reset every 3-4 months, so every month there is a new server to play on.
Liel Jul 25th 2007 8:09PM
Heh they should consolidate low pop servers first, people always wanting new realms seem to be people who tend to fall behind the curve due to play style and want to start on a level playing field.
jon Jul 25th 2007 8:15PM
The solution is to open a permadeath server. Die once, and you have to reroll.
Pook Jul 25th 2007 9:26PM
I think a server that resets after the first person reaches 70 would be interesting at least for a while..
simplehiker Jul 25th 2007 9:29PM
As a new player starting the game on a older realm the biggest problem was inflation of economy and power. I saw more 70s then 40s on a daily basis. With my highest char being level 30 items that I was really needing people were treating like chump chain. Matts to level up professions were ridiculous prices, don't even think of making a competitive BG character even crappy twink items were HUGE prices.
So I rerolled on one of the new servers and LOVED it. People to level with, econ wasn't crazy. But now that paid transfers have opened up economy has started to go down hill fast!
Regis Jul 25th 2007 9:36PM
Personally I love rolling a new character on a fresh new realm. So many new people flooding the starting zones, you have tens of groups asking you to join for Wailing Caverns, and the AH is clean and fairly balanced.
The joy of simply get tailoring and create bags all day long for new people as they pass the town :)
And then it's the grind to 60 and 70, to join a raiding guild and be one of the first to down raid bosses on the realm. The feeling is unmatched.
Terrant Jul 25th 2007 10:56PM
I see this happening when WoW is on its last legs and Blizzard is finally willing to diversify the realm types with Full PvP, "Classic" mode, Resetting servers, etc. Right now, I don't think it probably justifies the cost. And considering some people roll on RP servers and have to ask "Wuts rp?", I can bet you people would roll on these other types of servers and be like, "I worked for weeks on my character and then he disappeared! WTF Blizzard?"
Harris Jul 25th 2007 11:22PM
This sounds like a great idea! Have a couple of servers that wipe and reset every four to six months with no paid transfers onto those servers. They could have a special sign up page that you have to click an "accept" button stating that you understand that on this specific date the world will be destroyed and all players and possessions will be permanently lost unless you'd like to pay to have your character transferred to another server.
Eric Wise Jul 26th 2007 12:19AM
I sooo want this mount! Go wowinsider!
Tobiathin Jul 26th 2007 1:07AM
@9
Not quite the area you should enter that contest in...
Though you do get cookies.
*Gives cookies*
Tseran Jul 26th 2007 1:35AM
I'd have to see numbers on this. If more then 5% of the people would like a perpetually rerolling realm, then make one to start. However, before they do that there are other things they need to do:
- Make RP servers have a warning before you sign into one TELLING you that you have to follow the RP guidelines
- Make RP servers with more strict naming conventions (some of the names are almost as bad are pure PvP servers)
Another idea I heard of for RP servers is player level admins, ones chosen by Blizzard to have minimal powers to help with RP control. Little things like a mute (makes a player unable to say/yell/use channels/whisper unless they are whispering to a GM. This way people breaking RP constantly will be controlled a little easier. I am not talking true Blizzard employees, but people volunteering to help make the server a better place.
Hotel Jul 26th 2007 2:39AM
"That thrilling race to level 70" -- whoa, what game are you playing? I constantly create new characters because leveling my over-60 alts is less of a race and more of a huge, irritating grind.
But that's my opinion as a casual player. I like the whole leveling once or twice a session thing. Makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something.
For me, new servers are a lot of fun for awhile, but I usually get tired of fighting 3 newbies for a mineral vein or having 10 people camping a quest kill.
We could have say, realms where you can have 2 PTR-style premade alts. Because the PTR realms are tons of fun -- that is, after you try for a few days to get a character copied, then wait a few days for it to go through, then wait 45 minutes each time you want to log in.
Xephero Jul 26th 2007 2:43AM
That has got to be the coolest looking mount ever...thnx for giving one away. :)
Grubbtubb Jul 26th 2007 5:58AM
I have a lot of friends that like to reroll just so that they can be one of the first to reach 70. I just dont get it...
Dana Jul 26th 2007 9:10AM
They could always do some sort of ladder realm....like the Diablo II seasons. The top "ranked" players could get thier names on the worldofwarcraft.com website and the ladder season would restart eventually.
loltrainz Jul 26th 2007 8:18AM
Why waste Blizzards time and resources making a server that only a really limited amount of people will enjoy? Especially when they are plenty of low pop servers out there.
nulliar Jul 26th 2007 9:01AM
New realms are a bad idea, considering the $25 cost to jump ship. Why dupe new players into rolling on a new realm that "rerollers" have abandoned now that they hit 70?
Warrior_Tess Jul 26th 2007 9:29AM
Back in the day, or rather about 2 years ago, rerolling on a different realm was interesting and fun. A lot of people were just getting started with the game, and for a person who likes to help others succeed (me) it was a lot of fun grouping to help out and starting up guilds.
Now things are different. These days it seems that people who roll on new servers either A) know the game like the back of their hand and have become jaded and bitter towards helping others out or B)are the same sort of begging, irritating n00bs that the more mature players mocked from the get go.
I ask players who constantly reroll this: Are you seeking the same thrill you got when you first rolled a character on WoW over a year ago?
I've rerolled on plenty of servers, and I have plenty of alts that I don't play, but I don't know why on earth a constantly resetting server would be something that Bliz would even consider. It goes against the very nature of the game!
Though I suppose they would do just about anything to make a little extra money...
Pingmeister Jul 26th 2007 11:50AM
I enjoy those times as a lowbie when I don't have enough bag space or money for a new weapon so I have to hunt greens.
It makes the point where you hit your first hundred gold and such very important.
I just started on a new server for the WoW Insider Guild and have enjoyed every second.
For me, WoW is a game of small, mini-goals that I bash through one at a time. I have re-rolled on 5 or 6 servers and have yet to reach 70 on any of them.
I just REALLY enjoy the lower levels.