The title is not to be taken literally. Since Wrath and it’s single mono-faction realms are a lost cause, and for me, given my RPG mentaility - pointless to play on, i was wondering in Classic era has any realms left at this point with a decent enough populations of both factions?
Open world and its encounters, PvP and PvE are what i live for, as i do not care about the dungeon/raid simulator Wrath has become and especially Retail where the game is literally designed around it. It’s boring, repetitive, streamlined and overly-convenient.
If there are no such realms left, that’s fine, WoW isn’t the be-all and end-all anyway, Retail made sure of that
P.S. And no, i have no interest in the ‘‘hardcore’’ classic that’s been popping off for some time now.
The 1st is Ashbringer, Bloodfang, Dragonfang, Earthshaker, Gandling, Golemagg, Mograine, Noggenfogger, Skullflame, and Firemaw with Alliance:Horde around 60:40. All realms are connected to each other as if it’s one giant realm. It’s very active atm due to resurgence of interest in Classic Era.
The 2nd is Dreadmist, Flamelash, Judgement, Razorgore, Shazzrah, Stonespine, Ten Storms, and Gehennas - not very active. I don’t know about balance.
The PVE cluster is Mirage Raceway, Nethergarde Keep, and Pyrewood Village with Alliance:Horde around 70:30. Medium population.
Hydraxian Waterlords is the PVE RP realm where the hardcore players play but you said you are not interested.
Zandalar Tribe is the PVP RP realm but not very active and not sure about balance.
Well, this certainly seems promising. Appreciate the fairly detailed reply.
Had my hopes for Wrath, but as time passed i realized the game has lost its way similarly to Retail, hence why i said ‘‘raid simulator’’. Guess i should have known it will turn out that way, having played the game for 2 decades, but oh well, it is what it is.
Just pick one from the cluster where your character name is available. I started a rogue on Ashbringer but thinking of creating another class that will be more wanted for groups. What class and faction will you be playing?
I had huge hopes for Wrath with it’s fresh realms but the last nail in the coffin was put 5 days ago when my guild was transfered to Earthshaker.
I’ve always played Horde, in a way it’s my identity, so that’s what ill stick with, if i decide to play anyway.
As for a class, hard to say, i’m usually drawn to least common specs like boomies, rets…but it’s still undecided. I really hate playing the same as others…quite weird in my eyes.
I have always played Alliance. I just like night elves, Stormwind and Darnassus too much.
I don’t want to be one of many warriors. And if I want to heal probably the best would be to be a priest. The other class I am considering is mage but unfortunately elves can’t be mages.
And you can’t be a Horde ret in Era.
Write again if you decide to play what your experience has been.
Just FYI, unlike to what you might be used to, it is actually possible to have both horde and alliance characters at the same time on the PvP cluster(without any character transfer shenanigans, that is).
Since every server in the cluster is still separate when it comes to character creation, the “cannot have both factions on a PvP server” rule is only enforced per-server. You can easily create for example ally on firemaw, and horde on bloodfang, and they will both play on the same cluster, see same players in the world, etc.
Great for getting a rare name, too. Just don’t select Firemaw for server. 90% of players in the cluster chose firemaw server for some reason
The thing is i don’t care about PvE, specifically raids anyway, too boring, repetitive and ultimately pointless for me. When raids are an immersive community driven experience like it used to be back in the old classic days…that’s great, but in Wrath classic people log on for raids to get their parses, maybe dailies and log off. They don’t play for the community, immersion, the world…anything, in essence - they don’t play the game as an MMORPG, but rather as a MOBA, looter-shooter, same as Retail.
Such a mindset literally gives me depression, and that’s not an expression, running in a hamsterwheel day in day out.
What i want from an MMORPG and RPGs in general is that ‘‘old’’ experience i mentioned above. Witcher 3 and CP2077 does it really well, but i’d prefer an MMO…as it makes the world feel more alive when there are players around, especially opposing faction, which adds a sense of danger and engagement.
Few things can surpass the feeling of fighting enemy players/faction, or even just a passive occasional encounter.
I have a very similar mindset to you. I hate what retail has become. You might as well scrap the world and just have a menu after logon saying ‘Which instance to you wish to go to?’ They have made it too convenient and far too much focused on high end game. Its all about the destination and not the journey.
I only play Alliance but the PVP cluster is very active with a swing in Alliance favour i believe. Constant chat selling crafted items, looking for groups, enchanters and even RP which is odd on a non-RP setup, but welcome.
I think it will scratch any itch you have. Let us know how you get on.
This applies to classes as well. There is no particular distinction between classes in Retail, even in their fantasy/identity as well as design. Every class can do everything and feel the same fundamentally. No niche roles or mechanics or interactions, meh. Been having an issue with this for many years. The way i feel about Retail classes is basically like playing 1 class with different ‘‘skins’’.
The game is indeed overly-convenient, streamlined to the core. You can pull and gather up 20+ mobs and not even break a sweat, heal up with 1 instant button if you get low.
That lack of sense of danger is a big issue, the world means nothing when you’re practically in god mode.
That’s fine, all i really care about is seeing the world alive with both factions, regardless of PvP engagement. The idea of being in a living, breathing world of Horde vs Alliance and other dangers. I suppose only a WoW boomer would understand what i mean by it. Something Retail has missed since Warlords, in my experience, it’s become quite monotonous/stale, something in the game shifted over time where the factions became meaningless, even as a measure of ‘‘identity’’, of who you are.
