A leveling server, just for leveling
by Mike Schramm 
Jun 26th 2009 at 8:00PM
Reader Tiago sent us an interesting idea I thought was worth sharing. He suggests that Blizzard create a "leveling server" -- a server that would be marked as specifically for new characters, so when you rolled a new toon on there, you'd be surrounded by a bunch of other people pre-80. And the key here would be that when you hit 80 on this server, then you would get a free server transfer off. In other words, Blizzard would have one server (completely optional, of course) designed for people to level on, with a realm full of people playing in the old world and leveling through the old quests.Sounds good, right? Like most of our ideas, Blizzard probably won't go for it -- they've already knocked down the idea of vanilla realms, and while this isn't the same thing (you'd be able to level to 80, the idea is just that you'd leave the server when you got there), it does mean creating a different ruleset for a brand new type of server. Plus, to a much lesser extent, it could create an even more lonely existence on the normal servers. Not to mention that Blizzard has been focusing on speeding past the low levels, not emphasizing them.
But I like the idea anyway -- it doesn't seem too tough to do (mark one realm recommended, and provide free server transfers off of it), and it seems like an excellent way to get people who enjoy leveling up all together in the same place. And that's really what MMOs like this are all about, right?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Quests, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Magresda Jun 26th 2009 8:10PM
No heirlooms, none of your friends, no gold from main character etc etc. Not to mention the fact that the already empty old world on "real" servers would feel even emptier.
Personally, I would never use this.
Omegan01 Jun 26th 2009 8:19PM
This. Seriously this. It would make for a very frustrating and lonely experience compared to leveling on a server where you know people and can give your alt a helping hand.
Clevins Jun 26th 2009 8:23PM
And in true commenter fashion you all miss the point. People right now complain that the old world is empty - this would populate it since people wouldn't be on their 80s.. they'd be leveling alts OR .. gasp... they'd be new players who don't yet have friends on an existing server!
yes, that's right, this wouldn't be for people who are leveling alts with their friends... it would be for people who are new or who level alts but want a higher chance at same level groups for instances. And then GASP... you transfer to the server your main is on so you're with your friends again.
I like the idea, though I'd let people transfer for free whenever. Some people might want to move over at 70 for example.
mibluvr13 Jun 26th 2009 8:24PM
Sounds like this would be aimed towards those who are playing WoW for the first time without knowing anyone else who plays. I started playing WoW without knowing ANYONE who played and this is a neat idea for that small proportion of the player base.
stalkingcat123 Jun 26th 2009 8:49PM
our mains didn't get any help save for the few nice level 60's (or 70 or 80 depending when you started) so why should our alts be so special??? just a thought there
Magresda Jun 26th 2009 8:57PM
The vast majority of players (at least EVERYONE I know) starts playing WoW because a friend of them does. Maybe the get a guest pass, recruit-a-friend, or just recommended - doesn't matter. These people will naturally pick a server they already know people on. Even if it's just an Uncle they rarely talk to.
But let's say someone without any WoW-playing friends whatsoever decides to start (mibluvr13), and create a character on this "leveling realm". Why would they transfer when they hit the level cap? Most likely they have met other similar players, probably joined a guild and made a lot of friends. Why wouldn't they just stay there? The logical answer would be that once you hit 60/70/80 you are forced to transfer, but aren't we then essentially back to the whole pre-tbc server discussion?
It doesn't make sense to split the player base like this. I know that when I'm on alts, it's usually to hang out with friends and chat without necessarily sitting on my main.
@stalkingcat123
Our alt should be special because they are just that - alternate characters. Creating a new character isn't like creating a fresh save in a regular RPG. Unless, of course, you start on a new server - which is sort of the point of this whole discussion.
Dazher Jun 26th 2009 8:58PM
@ Magresda
I like your comment that you, PERSONALLY, wouldn't use this. I wouldn't either. But our opinions shouldn't completely go against the idea because there would be other that would use it.
But on a side note, are people not reading that it says its completely optional? If you don't like it. Then don't use it. Sounds easy, right?
Magus Jun 26th 2009 9:01PM
I'm pretty sure the total population of non-80's would overload a single server, so there goes the simplicity.
You don't need to do group/dungeon quests to get to 80, but if you insist, it's not difficult to find groups.
- Make some friends
- Use "/who" with level ranges
- Put yourself in LFG and look for others in there
- Find a leveling guild
- Don't just spam the trade channel with "WTB stocks run"
With all of the recent and upcoming changes to leveling, it goes by quicker than ever.
If you're in that much of a hurry to get to 80, there's always RAF.
EZ Jun 26th 2009 9:03PM
Sooo, a new player, who doesn't know anyone, is supposed to level all the way to 79, and by the time they reach 79 when they finally know some people and possibly have a guild - they have to transfer off to some new place where they dont know anyone?
even for new players this sounds like a terrible idea.
offday Jun 26th 2009 9:14PM
I wouldn't use it either. I actually like looking around at all the level 80s in their shiny gear. It gets me excited for when I get to 80, and gives me something to look forward to. A server full of low levels in crappy gear just seems boring.
Anaughtybear Jun 27th 2009 1:52AM
Dazher, obviously Magresda can't speak for everyone. That's the point of individual opinions. Multiple people make up majorities and minorities on every topic. You missed the point on your every try here. It's not optional, because it doesn't exist. Don't try to talk down to people because you happen to like this terrible idea. If you are going to flame someone for posting unnecessarily on something, you better make sure you have something to say as well.
Gothia Jun 27th 2009 2:52AM
Good ideal, but like you say acti-bliz is going to have to do something about the vanilla zones. Self destructive, short sightedness, and ignorance on acti-bliz's part has nearly crippled world content since the inception of the so called hero class Death Knights. Now we have under populated starting zones and a over powered suto-tanking under skilled dps class that is more numerous than the stars in the sky. A boost to level 55 is a dagger in the heart of starting zones across Azeroth that has every 9 year old on the servers dancing with joy. Look for acti-bliz attemt to continue making leveling in starting zones more appealing while GC continues to dance a jig around the issue. GG.
NERF DK's TO THE GROUND
Xeno Jun 27th 2009 7:54PM
How about steal an idea from WAR, and have a server for like 1-20 21-40 or something like that. That would make a real big focus on leveling if that occurred
Bob Dewane Jun 30th 2009 9:24AM
I really don't know who they think they're aiming this at. New players who want population in the realm? Then what's the point of offering a free transfer? So the new player can transfer AWAY from the people he/she met and became friends with while leveling to go to a new server as a freshly minted 80? I don't think so. Is it aimed at altaholics? I can't see that either. Like the OP said...no heirlooms, no gold from mains, no friends to power you through dungeons or quests. They certainly won't go for it.
The bottom line is I think its up to us, as players, to help out where/when we can. I've met plenty of new players while leveling alts and I dont think twice about helping them with tips on gear/specs, running them through instances with my main or just helping out however I can. I watch trade chanel spams and when I see someone "LF tank for (insert vanilla/BC dungeon here)," assuming I have the time, I will ask if they care if the tank is lvl 80 and will blow through the place in 15-30 minutes. If they don't care I don't care. Hell I've even responded to "LF healer" for low lvl dungeons and just tell them "I'm not a healer, but we won't need one =P"
I've leveled 4 alts now and I started playing a couple months after BC came out. I see no difference in the amount of players in the old world OR BC. The problem IS NOT the number of players. It's the fact that "powered alts" (i.e. ones running heirloom shoulders and full rest XP) blow through those zones like a dang tornado. I'll give you a personal example. I rolled a DK, did his starting quests and took him to HH in Outland. Then I let him sit while I started another alt, and did a ton of stuff with my main. I came back to the DK. He quested in HP till he was 62, Zang till he was 64, Nagrand till he was 67 and did 5 quests in SMV to ding 68 and then got on the boat to Northrend. NEVER set foot in Blade's Edge, NEVER set foot in Netherstorm. I did virtually the same thing in the old world with a hunter alt. You cut the number of zones you need to do nearly, if not entirely, in half. I think this is the problem.
Warheado Jun 26th 2009 8:11PM
Unfortunately I think this is quite a horrible idea
Spiraea Jun 26th 2009 8:13PM
I don't see the point..
Worcester Jun 26th 2009 9:09PM
You don't have to. The smart kids get it. It won't affect you at all. Move along.
unigolyn Jun 27th 2009 12:46PM
Yes, because you're obviously not a smart kid if you don't subscribe to Harebrained Neckbeard Idea #48.
Mike Jun 26th 2009 8:19PM
If it were PVP, no ganking for the first few weeks, at least, but the whole idea is just like adding a new server with no transfers. Of course to be fair no RaF would be allowed.
Omacron Jun 26th 2009 8:24PM
I concur that this is a horrible idea. What happens to the main servers' economies when all arts are removed? No one buys low level mats nor farms them for their tradeskills. What happens to outland, let alone the old world? Hell, Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord will serve no purpose save for one or two dailies.