Layering was an awesome idea, but executed poorly

[Elf-mograine]

Let’s start with the basics.

What was layering supposed to do?
Layering was supposed to mitigate the launch population problems, so that there aren’t long queues at launch, and there aren’t dead servers long after launch

Did layering do its job?
Not at all. Maybe it greatly reduced the login queues on high-pop realms. But what next? Layering cannot stay there forever, right?

If you turn off layering now:

1. Low-pop realms will have a healthy population, instead of dead servers, indeed
2. But, let’s talk about the high-pop realms. Let’s say that these realms have short (500) queues during rush hours. Let’s say that there are 5 layers.
   So, right now, we have n users in game, plus 500 users in queue.
   After, we’ll have n/5 users in the game, and n*4/5+500 users in the queue. This means an extreme majority of concurrent users unable to play.

The problem:
After layering goes off, most players of high-pop realms will be unable to play

Potential solutions:

1. Make the “population” indicator behave as if layering was already off. Let’s say that each realm is going to have 2k population, and each layer has 1k population, and each realm can hold up to 5 full layers. So, when there are 2000 players online, it will be already full, even though 3000 more players can join before queus begin.
2. Make the “population” indicator show the rush hour, instead of the right-now status. So, if it’s “Full” at 9 PM, it will stay “full” at least until 9 PM next day.
3. Make an in-game breaking news alert about realm capacity reducing due to layering getting disabled. This will encourage players to FCM
4. Increase the amount of destinations available for FCM. Here, I’m talking about letting players migrate to ANY realm that’s lower population than the source - many players really want to avoid dead servers.
5. Most importantly, TREAT THE PLAYERBASE AS FULLY-GROWN AND EDUCATED ADULTS. We are not in 90s anymore, when “video games are Satan’s tool to turn the teenagers against their parents”. If we think they do, we do.

Additional, temporary problem:
Zones are crowded all around the clock

Solution:
Make the number of layer, not players-per-layer, a constant value. So that if there are 2000 players per layer and 10000 online at 9PM, there will be 100 players per layer and 500 online at 4AM.

[Lucielle-zandalar-tribe]

The queue system doesn’t run a queue per layer or anything, you’re layered when you’re put in the game. Not when you log into the server.

[Rutaler-teldrassil]

I’m a streamer and I’m glad they implemented layering after we asked for it. Without layering me and many other streamers wouldn’t be able to create all the cool classic content because of all the world PvP. It’s beyond me that so many are against layering.

[Fruity-mograine]

We’re months away from layering being removed, populations are likely to still drop.

Yes there will be huge queues if populations don’t drop before it’s removed, this is why they are offering free transfers, there is nothing else they can do, if a realm shows full now it would still show full if it referred to a non-layered realm.

[Азриил-deathguard (Азриил)]

@Elf-mograine

If you turn off layering now:

1. Low-pop realms will have a healthy population, instead of dead servers, indeed
2. But, let’s talk about the high-pop realms. Let’s say that these realms have short (500) queues during rush hours. Let’s say that there are 5 layers.
   So, right now, we have n users in game, plus 500 users in queue.
   After, we’ll have n/5 users in the game, and n*4/5+500 users in the queue. This means an extreme majority of concurrent users unable to play.

Layering has no impact on this. Total population is still same. 1 layer, AFAIK is large enough (I play on gehennas and I can say no matter what layer I end up to -there’s a lot of people). So if server is low pop - majority would be loaded in same layer already.

Queues would remain same. Layering AFAIK was used to just spread player population within zones, not add server capacity.

When layers go off, nothing changes for me in gehennas other than that i see devilsaurs even less than I already did…