One of the things Classic WoW does really well is create spontaneous, unique PvP encounters while players are doing their more predictable and by now well-known quests.
These moments, especially when encountering someone in your leveling range, are for some, myself included, very thrilling and maybe one of the most entertaining events that the game has to offer.
The surprise and pace involved contrast the traveling and questing very briefly, colouring your way up to max level in a great way.
Is it possible that now, in retail, people that choose for War Mode while leveling are also phased into the time-frame they picked when talking to Chromie? For example, if I go to Desolace after picking Cataclysm - Will I be able to see someone that’s still in the BfA timezone? I don’t think so.
The world as it is, is already huge. By splitting it up in even more time zones - I’m worried I won’t meet any horde players while leveling in older zones.
That is one problem.
The other problem is that, when we do in fact meet a horde, the level disparity is very likely to be too large to make the encounter exciting.
I’ve played the game for many years and aside from raiding, these unique open world encounters have always brought me the most joy. I hope to be able to experience this again in leveling at some point in the future.
I’ve, of course, come up with solutions.
The first one has actually already been implemented in some form, but was then abolished. Players would be scaled to be matched in power even though the would have different levels. As I seemed to understand from the feedback at the time, the scaling was off. Also, people didn’t like seeing a lower leveling beating them.
I do think however, the basic premise of scaling to match strength was the right one. However, when players see the character from the opposing faction, they should not see the actual level of that player - but, just like the mobs in the zone, the level of that other players should be shown as the same as theirs. The level gap shouldn’t be visible. That would make it less bothersome.
Perhaps, at level 50 and beyond the scaling should end - keeping things as they are now and making it so that level 60 players can still easily kill anyone below their level.
Remember, in Classic WoW people would go to zones attuned for their level. That meant that when they met eachother, they would also have a similar level.
The second solution is targeted at phasing due to the Chrome Time choices. Perhaps all zones should just be configured for 1-50 leveling. Choosing a different timeline at Chromie thus wouldn’t put you in another phase anymore. The only thing Chromie would change, is the starting quest she offers for entering the old expansion and the dungeons.
Instead of phasing, perhaps Chromie should change zones like Darnassus, Tirisfal Glades, Arathi, … depending on the expansion - but that is actually a separate, supplementary idea.
TLDR: Remove phasing due to Chromie & introducing PvP scaling at level 50 and below in the open world in order to recreate that old school Classic Wow leveling experience.