Apologies for my potential ignorance, im not a tech genius, nor do i claim to know much about these things…
BUT
My understanding is that there is a hardware limitation to this server, and servers seem to be able to carry what, up to say 20-25k players? You have 17 dead severs. And you utilize a way of “linking” servers. Why not move the database of each faction to alternative servers, Name is Firemaw-Alliance / Firemaw-Horde and link the servers, that way you get the community as well as split the huge congregation into a single server.
That way might also help the faction balance as each faction would run its on course of queues and then potentially balance out a mega server (faction wise) which is CLEARLY what a large majority of the playbase wants. A HEALTHY, POPULATED SERVER which they can ACTUALLY play.
Ive pulled my wallet out 3 times.
I am an alt-o-holic and have move 10 chars mid classic and another 7 mid TBC JUST to be able to recruit and run with friends.
I am in a dad guild who just want to enjoy our time together, a great community of friends who want to play, but a lot of us have a big focus on alts / alts progression / alts raiding etc and the option to “just move” to another server (with a low pop) is utterly disconnected.
Dont blame hardware when you leave 17 dead servers open in EU.
Shazzrah, Lucifron, Noggenfogger, Gandling, Zandalar Tribe, Skullflame, Hydroxian Waterlords, Bloodfang, Dragonfang, Finkle, Dreadmist, Stonespine, Flamelash, Heartstriker, Dragon’s Call, Ten Storms & Judgement!
For someone that has moved once before (and to a med pop server to avoid massive queues), watching that server DIE and force my hand to transfer again really hit home.
There are fixes to this, and should be your priority. Not telling us to just move to alleviate the problem. Very few are going to risk moving to a low/med pop server just to watch it die to have to pull out our wallet again!