[WoW] Server Splits

[Malakie Torsade]

From : WoW Forums -> Beta Test - Realm Splitting

Originally Posted by Tseric

Beta Realm Split Test

We are in the process of testing a functionality that allows us to split an existing realm into two new realms. This functionality may become necessary should the total population of a realm reach maximum player capacity. During this test we plan to split the Hellfire beta realm. For further information, please read the Realm Split FAQ listed below.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please reply in this thread so we can update the FAQ accordingly.

What is a realm split?

The term realm split describes the process of taking an overpopulated realm and dividing the population between two new realms.

What will determine whether a realm will need to undergo a realm split?

As severe realm overpopulation can result in unacceptable queue times for players entering the game, the need for a realm split is determined by the extent to which a realm is overpopulated. In the event of excessive overpopulation, Blizzard will examine a number of factors and explore multiple options for mitigating that overpopulation. A realm split will be executed only if Blizzard feels that the procedure represents the best option for addressing population-related issues.

What are the benefits to a realm split?

When a realm reaches maximum player capacity, gameplay becomes adversely affected. By dividing a realm’s population between two realms, we’re able to create a more stable, more enjoyable environment for all affected characters, which in turn contributes to a much more satisfactory World of Warcraft experience for everyone.

Are any other measures being taken to avoid forcing a realm split?

Yes. One measure is to raise the player caps for all realms when The Burning Crusade launches. This will be possible in part because of the hardware upgrades that we’ve worked to put in place since the original launch. In addition, our programmers regularly review our realm code to identify better ways to maximize performance as a realm’s population increases. Furthermore, as we have in the past, we will initiate a free character move (to realms designated by Blizzard) before resorting to a realm split.

Will I be able to choose my new realm?

When a realm is chosen to undergo a split, an in-game message at the character-selection screen will prompt all affected players to choose between one of the two new realms being created. The player will be able to make this decision (or change his or her decision) up until the realm-split process has been completed. The realm that the player chooses will be the destination for all characters that the player plays on that realm.

What happens to my characters if I don’t choose?

If a realm is not chosen by the player, each character will be individually relocated to one of the two new realms based on a priority system. The system will first determine whether the character is in a guild and move the character based on the destination of the guild’s leader. If the character is not in a guild, the system will then check if the character is part of an arena team and move the character accordingly. If these conditions do not apply, Blizzard will make the decision for the character(s).

Is it possible to send my characters to different realms?

If a player does not provide us with his or her preference, and allows the priority system described above to individually process the
relocation of each character, then it is possible to have characters become divided between the two new realms. Manually selecting a realm during the selection period will ensure that all characters from a single account on the affected realm will relocate together.

Does providing my realm preference guarantee my destination?

We will do our best to accommodate everyone’s realm preference, but if manual realm selections result in one of the two new realms being overpopulated, we may need to move some of the population to a different realm.

What happens to my Friends and Ignore lists?

The characters on a player’s Friend and Ignore lists will remain, provided those characters moved to the same realm.

Will items in the mail or auction house become lost?

These items will be moved with each character.

During the time of a realm split, will the Paid Character Transfer service still be available?

Yes. Players will still have the option to transfer their characters using the Paid Character Transfer service.

Will the transfer of my character(s) from the realm being split count toward the transfer “cooldown,” affecting my ability to transfer elsewhere using the Paid Character Transfer service?

No. Characters moved through the realm-split process will not activate the transfer cooldown.

What if I don’t like the new realm? Am I stuck there?

All players will have the same opportunity that they normally would to transfer the characters they play on an affected realm to a new realm using the Paid Character Transfer service.

Someone mentioned it as a rumor in another thread, and it looks like they are seriously considering it.

Would a split suck for Horde on a PvE server? Icecrown, for example, is currently listed as "Full." However, the Horde population isn't great. When I was in my old raiding guild, we were 3rd progress-wise on the server and recruiting sucked. The pool of people to pull from was just sad and we had to end up merging with another guild. Looking at our progression list, it appears there are about 13 Alliance guilds in AQ or higher, but only 5 Horde guilds. A server split would be a crushing blow to Horde raiding guilds and would create a domino effect on the Horde population. Population-wise, Garona is in the same boat.

Are most other PvE servers the same? Prior to about 3 weeks ago, were other PvE servers experiencing significant, persistent ques? Icecrown hasn't had ques for months, and even on the very rare occasion I did see one, it would be about 20 people long with like a 1 minute wait time.

I cannot imagine a server split being good for Horde, barring servers where the the population of Team Thrall is large (see, PvP servers.) The raid limit being lowered would be a cushion, but you still have issues trying to get PUG groups for instances. On the other hand, I don't have a good solution. Well, they could and should make ques faction based, but will never, ever do that.

EDIT : Bolded questions to make it easier to read.

[Fadaar]

Gilneas Horde would be screwed if the extremely small population got cut down even more.

[Qhue]

This is really quite necessary. Voluntary transfers off of congested servers has NOT worked. So what needs to be done at this point is a solid and mandatory split and one where you start out with one server name and end up with two different server names so that no one feels like they got shunted off to a second-class server (everyone gets shunted off and the server name is retired).

I'd even go so far as to say the new server names should be hidden from people during the split process so that you dont end up with people swarming to a cooler named one.

[Hozz]

Originally Posted by Qhue

This is really quite necessary. Voluntary transfers off of congested servers has NOT worked. So what needs to be done at this point is a solid and mandatory split and one where you start out with one server name and end up with two different server names so that no one feels like they got shunted off to a second-class server (everyone gets shunted off and the server name is retired).

I'd even go so far as to say the new server names should be hidden from people during the split process so that you dont end up with people swarming to a cooler named one.

I agree with the above but...

The problem they keep dancing around is the Alliance having many, many more players than the Horde. Someday maybe they will get that is what they ought to be addressing.

[...]

Originally Posted by Qhue

I'd even go so far as to say the new server names should be hidden from people during the split process so that you dont end up with people swarming to a cooler named one.

no remant of the server name shoudl remain either. blackhand shouldn't split to blackhand and gooberhand. it should just become two unrlated names so as to prevent "well i'm staying withblackhand".

[Lenaldo]

Does anyone else think this sounds like a terrible idea? I mean, at best you will average out the high-population side a bit more but completely ruin the side that is low on pop. Unless the server is equally maxed this can only be a bad thing. More so, I myself choose severs based on population. I like to play an MMORPG on a server where there are other people. Playing on a low-pop server is a waste of my time - in my opinion. I dont bitch about my server's Q or any lag issues because I understand that I am choosing a server that is "full".

[Wowbagger]

The biggest problem I see is that it implies your characters could be split between the realms. IMHO the account should move all it's characters to the same realm.

Keeping guild and arena teams together is smart, however it is only if the individual fails to make a choice. So if I'm out of town on business and can't log in to make a choice, I'll go wherever the guild goes. Good move. However, again that's a per-character issue. Since you could have two characters in two different guilds, this poses a problem, which is probably why they have de-linked accounts from characters in this process.

The only safe way to ensure all your characters move to a specific server is to make a choice yourself.

Time will tell if they give enough warning to account for those who do not have a chance to make a choice.

[Talzar]

Originally Posted by Lenaldo

Does anyone else think this sounds like a terrible idea? I mean, at best you will average out the high-population side a bit more but completely ruin the side that is low on pop. Unless the server is equally maxed this can only be a bad thing. More so, I myself choose severs based on population. I like to play an MMORPG on a server where there are other people. Playing on a low-pop server is a waste of my time - in my opinion. I dont bitch about my server's Q or any lag issues because I understand that I am choosing a server that is "full".

If you played on Blackhand with 800+ queues during primetime you wouldn't think it was a bad idea. Horde just have to figure out how to work with what they have if they are low pop, does it really matter if you have 15 guilds that are AQ+ versus 5 guilds that are AQ+ capable? It just means the Alliance outnumber Horde 3:1, how does that give you any better chance at getting into a guild doing high end content? When the expansion comes out and the highest content is doable by 25 people I'm sure people can get into groups capable of doing the content available. Meanwhile I don't want my internet to hiccup and force me into a 700 person queue when my guild needs me to tank Patchwerk and the like.

[Tuco]

Being able to choose which server to go to is nice. Will be interesting to see what happens.

I imagine that Mal'Ganis will be one of the first to be split, not just because of the number of players and raiding guilds (50 some nef killing guilds), but also because of game-wide popularity of some of the guilds like Aurora, Ret and Elitist Jerks.

Hopefully they'll try the first server split with very few rules that would prevent people from going to a server of their choice and see what happens.

I imagine that for MG most of the top 50 guilds would go to the same server, not just because I'd rather fight the top horde guilds, but also because most of my friends are in the top alliance guilds and I'd prefer to keep recruiting from the "Slightly Less Than Us" guilds that happen to be in the top 50. Going to a server without good recruits is death for most raiding guilds.

[budrick]

Perhaps they are hoping the new blood elf mangina contingent will make up the difference? Regardless, low population Horde servers are going to be impacted severely by this and I wish I had an idea to help alleviate it.

I don't.

[Twobit Whore]

Originally Posted by budrick

Perhaps they are hoping the new blood elf mangina contingent will make up the difference? Regardless, low population Horde servers are going to be impacted severely by this and I wish I had an idea to help alleviate it.

I don't.

Perhaps the splits could be faction specific? A merging/split hybrid thing. You could take some of the alliance from a low-horde server and some horde from a high-horde server and make a balanced server, while leaving 2 balanced serves in the wake.

[Akileese]

Originally Posted by Twobit Whore

Perhaps the splits could be faction specific? A merging/split hybrid thing. You could take some of the alliance from a low-horde server and some horde from a high-horde server and make a balanced server, while leaving 2 balanced serves in the wake.

That's a logical choice actually. I gave it a good 20 minutes of thinking and I really can't think of a good idea. The BE factor is definitely playing into it. They're hoping that blood elves cause more players to flock to the hordeas to balance out the servers. Whether this works or not remains to be seen.

For balanced servers and raid guild heavy servers, this is a good idea but as said before, with faction specific low pops, it's going to be horrible.

[Shoeby]

Originally Posted by Twobit Whore

some horde from a high-horde server

Does such a beast exist outside of some PVP realms? Every PVE realm I've ever rolled on, we were outnumbered, it's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you.

Although your idea would be awesome if they could implement it.

I've always been a fan of taking all these "new" servers that blizzard created back when they were opening new servers every few weeks which are low pop and merging two into one and opening the now empty realm into a transfer server for ridiculously high pop servers.

[Hozz]

Originally Posted by Akileese

They're hoping that blood elves cause more players to flock to the hordeas to balance out the servers. Whether this works or not remains to be seen.

For balanced servers and raid guild heavy servers, this is a good idea but as said before, with faction specific low pops, it's going to be horrible.

It isnt going to work.

For it to work, the Alliance offering would have had to be far less appealing than the Horde offering and that is not the case IMO. I dont think the new race/class choices will affect the populations at all.

Originally Posted by Shoeby

Does such a beast exist outside of some PVP realms? Every PVE realm I've ever rolled on, we were outnumbered, it's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you.

Although your idea would be awesome if they could implement it.

I've always been a fan of taking all these "new" servers that blizzard created back when they were opening new servers every few weeks which are low pop and merging two into one and opening the now empty realm into a transfer server for ridiculously high pop servers.

US Realm Stats - WarcraftRealms.com

Looks to me like there is a whopping 1 US PvE or RP server with a clear Horde majority, Blackhand. lol And if you look at activity ratio instead of straight character population...Blackhand Horde is no longer a majority.

[Alamando]

WTB betrayal quests.

Human -> Food Poisoning -> Undead
Gnome -> Experiment gone tragically wrong -> Tauren
Night Elf -> Too much "Emerald Dream" -> Troll
Dwarf -> Steroid abuse -> Orc