Update: Clarification about realm grouping, initial zones, and zone splitting added.

Cross-Realm Zones Coming to Beta
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
In the World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria beta, we’re introducing a new technology that will enable players to meet up and group with other players in under populated areas of the world such as low level zones or areas that other players may have outleveled or moved on from. This technology will allow players to form a group with other players from within a select pool of realms in order to quest just like they normally would while still allowing the social structures of their home realms to remain intact.

During the initial phase of testing we will be sharing the following zones between the available beta realms: Northern Barrens, Ashenvale, Azshara, Darkshore, Westfall, and Silithus. We are also able to split over-populated zones and will be testing this new technology on the Pandaren starting area (turtle zone).

For beta testing purposes, we will be matching up all realm types whether they are PvP or PvE. This is different than what we plan to do for the live realms, however. For the live realms we will be matching realm types: PvP with PvP, PvE with PvE, RP-PvP with RP-PvP, and RP-PvE with RP-PvE. As always, we plan to keep an eye on constructive feedback while in testing of this new technology.

F.A.Q.

Q. Why cross-realm zones?
For many years now, the significant majority of the player population online at any given time has consisted mostly of characters at or near the level cap. This has resulted in an environment where characters that are leveling up experience a world that has fewer other players to interact with than what the world was designed for. Cross-realm zones give us the capability to ensure that level-up zones retain a population size that feels more like the high level areas of the game, leading to a more fun play experience for characters of all levels.

Q. How do cross-realm zones work?
When you’re in a zone that is set as a ‘cross-realm zone’ you’ll notice that in addition to the players you’d ordinarily see from your realm, you’ll also see (and be able to play with) players from other realms. This will happen seamlessly, and players will be able to group and quest as they normally would with players from their own realm.

Q. How will this work on boats or zeppelins?

Usually transitions will occur on area boundaries (think moving from Darkshore to Ashenvale).

Q. Can I form groups with the people I meet in the zone?
Yes! You can group and talk to others within the cross-server zone normally though trading will be restricted much as it is within raids, dungeons, or battlegrounds.

Q. Will my cross-realm group be disbanded if we move on to an adjacent zone together, like from Goldshire to Westfall or from Thousand Needles to Feralas?
Much like how cross-realm groups currently work, your party won’t be disbanded when you move through different zones, though if you’re not in the same home realm, you won’t be able to see each other if you’re in separate zone instances.

Q. Will I be able to group with my friends?
Yes, you will be able to group with your Real ID friends, provided they are within the same faction. The functionality works the same as it does for cross-realm dungeons, raids, or Battlegrounds.

Q. What level range do my friends and I have to be within in order to group?
There is no restriction on level ranges. You’ll be able to group with anyone you would normally be able to.

Q. Can I go into main capital cities while grouped with others?
Capital cities and areas with regularly high populations will not be set as cross-server areas/zones so you will not be able to enter into the same instance of a city as someone who is from a different realm.

Q. Will I be able to trade with others I meet?
Trading restrictions are in place much the same as they are in cross-realm dungeons, raids, and battlegrounds.

Q. How is group loot handled?
Group looting will function the same as it would with any group you would create through normal play.

Q. Who will I be playing with?
You’ll be able to interact with players from within a select pool of realms which will make it possible to run into a player in Redridge that you already ran into within Westfall.

Q. What areas will be shared?
This can vary from realm to realm and relies on how densely populated (or underpopulated) an area is. Capital cities and areas with regularly high populations will not be eligible for area sharing.

Q. What about resources or gathering nodes, will those be shared too?
Resources and nodes will be available to all parties within the shared area the same as always. We will be keeping a close eye on the impact of area sharing and should an area become too populated, we are capable of adjusting how many realms are able to connect to a shared area.

Q. Does this mean that Auction Houses will be merged?

No, when any player access an Auction House, they will be only able to access their home realm’s Auction House.

Q. What about zones that are already overpopulated, like new race starting zones?

With this technology, we can also flag zones to allow for more than one copy of that zone per realm. Players on that realm will be split among those copies in order to alleviate problems due to overpopulation. Players won’t normally see or interact with those on a different instance of their zone, although joining a party will relocate all party members to a single instance of that zone.

Q. How will this work for PvP vs. PvE realms? Will these realm types be shared?
No. Realm types will be matched with like realm types. So if you’re on a PvE realm, you’ll only be matched with other PvE realms. The same rules will apply for matching RP realm types and will be restricted to matching RP-PvP with RP-PvP and RP-PvE with RP-PvE. We plan to keep an eye on constructive feedback while testing this new technology.

Q. How will RID groups work? Which realm type would we play on?
If you group up with somebody from a different rule type (via RealID for example) and go into a cross-realm zone you’ll be on the ruleset for that player’s realm type. So, if you’re on a PvP realm and a friend joins your group from a PvE realm and enters a cross-realm zone, the group will be in one of the PvP realm clusters and will use the PvP realm ruleset.

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
Q: I really don't see any reason to group with others when everything is so easy to do at the lower levels. All these other people will be doing is killing my mobs and taking my resources.
The game is specifically designed with variable respawns, and huge influxes of players on launches. Having very few people in a zone is actually not what the game is supposed to be.

Q: Will be have to zone to every zone from now on then?
No, it's as seamless as it is today.
This article was originally published in forum thread: Cross-Realm Zones Coming to Beta started by chaud View original post
Comments 596 Comments
  1. TofuBeast's Avatar
    >Cry about how good Vanilla was when everyone was out in the world and did large scale world pvp battles

    >Cry when they implement the best possible solution to bring it back


    Lmao this community
  1. MoanaLisa's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Brexan View Post
    The main problem I see with this is the same issue we have seen with LFR/LFG - certain people from other servers seem to think its acceptaible to grief-play to varying extents as they can 'get away with it' without any of the social reprecussions you'd get if you were acting badly towards someone on your own server. Want to ninja a mob? sure why not, you'll never seen that guy again. Want to get into a random flame war in general chat? go right ahead, your guild won't know etc etc etc.
    When exactly was the last time someone suffered repercussions for doing something in Ashenvale?
  1. Xerra's Avatar
    This seems like a similar system to GW2's overflow server except the opposite cramming the smaller groups into one instead of making a new one for the crowded servers.
  1. TofuBeast's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Xerra View Post
    This seems like a similar system to GW2's overflow server except the opposite cramming the smaller groups into one instead of making a new one for the crowded servers.
    "We are also able to split over-populated zones and will be testing this new technology on the Pandaren starting area (turtle zone)."
  1. Marmot's Avatar
    I...don't know what to say...totally unexpected and out of the blue, yet completely amazing.
  1. Dyptheria's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Ruak View Post
    What's the point of allowing player to get more people to group with during low-level stuff, if the low-level stuff remains being that easy? Currently there is ABSOLUTELY NO POINT to group up, cause everything is piss easy, soloable, you're able to breeze through it within minutes, and the odd character I meet while questing I deeply regret, as they only slow me down by having to camp twice as much yetis for their skins ^^

    Make content more difficult, slower-paced, the group experience worthwhile, and then introduce this... Doh!
    You have a point, but Blizzard had to make those decisions based on the technology they had access to at the time. When they nerfed places like Dun Modr by removing the Elites, my attitude was, "reward more XP rather than making the mobs weaker" but that's no help when you can't get people to help you complete the quest(s) in the first place. Also, there are still group quests in the game - The Cipher of Damnation for example, or Divination: Gorefiend's Armor.

    Overall, I think this is a good move. It allows them to bring back the "choke point" group quests and up the rewards for completing them. It allows them to maintain a multi-sharded architecture and yet make the move towards a more seamless experience for players. It may also pave the way for cross-realm guilds, which would certainly help out the would be raiders on low population realms, and would save the hassle of a realm merge, which is actually more complicated than you might think.

    The background work which supports this may also enable things like cross-realm mail, and perhaps a limited merging of Auction Houses - the Neutral ones would be a good candidate, in fact that in turn might indirectly help out the Alliance and Horde Auction House economies on the smaller realms.
  1. Nailien's Avatar
    I really like the idea but also think they are overcomplicating things a little. I think underpopulated realms merging would be more beneficial to both players and Blizzard..
  1. slackjawsix's Avatar
    WE WANT WORLD PVP BACK WAHHHH, hey guys guess what well now u can play with alot of people in those low lvl zones... OMG I LIKED IT THE WAY IT WAS

    there is no pleasing
  1. sweatshopkids's Avatar
    Ultima Online 2.0
  1. Resentful's Avatar
    Well now this was quite unexpected, I am literally shocked right now haha
  1. Williamgood's Avatar
    It's a good idea and a bad idea at the same time. I wonder what will happen if one of these zones crashes=S affects all the servers are just one.
  1. Burningphoenix's Avatar
    Here we go Troll ...erh I mean Barrens' chat.
  1. Easo's Avatar
    One of the best ideas ever. And Blizzard is not stupid. Spawn rates, maximum players, all will be adjusted. And low lvl characters wont be lonely anymore.
  1. Jon's Avatar
    Sounds awesome to me.
  1. Ruak's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Dyptheria View Post
    You have a point, but Blizzard had to make those decisions based on the technology they had access to at the time. When they nerfed places like Dun Modr by removing the Elites, my attitude was, "reward more XP rather than making the mobs weaker" but that's no help when you can't get people to help you complete the quest(s) in the first place.. Also, there are still group quests in the game - in Shadowmoon Valley at the Altar of Damnation, for example.

    Overall, I think this is a good move. It allows them to bring back the "choke point" group quests and up the rewards for completing them. It allows them to maintain a multi-sharded architecture and yet make the move towards a more seamless experience for players. It may also pave the way for cross-realm guilds, which would certainly help out the would be raiders on low population realms, and would save the hassle of a realm merge, which is actually more complicated than you might think.

    The background work which supports this may also enable things like cross-realm mail, and perhaps a limited merging of Auction Houses - the Neutral ones would be a good candidate, in fact that in turn might indirectly help out the Alliance and Horde Auction House economies on the smaller realms.
    And certainly they got the technology to merge servers. But they don't. Money will always be money. As many in this thread said - that doesn't solve the problem with low-pop realm raiding. Sure, I will have many people to level with. And then? By the time they introduce cross-realm guilds, etc, it'll be time for expansion N.6. Why not just merge low-pop servers NOW? I really hate how they release stuff slower than possible just to squeeze more money from the subscribers.
  1. cateran100's Avatar
    Yeah...grouping in low level areas is absolutely necessary...There is a lot of grouping quest, impossible to solo them...ohh wait...NO!
    I got bored to make an alt after my last 1 (hunter) who gained a level so quickly, was pointless to make any quests...Even if i started an area, 2-3 quests and bammm all of them turned to be grey because i outleveled so damn quickly...
    I do not hate blizz (activision is another story) but this and RAF and the many low populated european realms pointing into 1 direction: not everything is so flawless and gorgeous with the game as they imply to show it
  1. Waterisbest's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by runeb1980@hotmail.com View Post
    Try to digest the following, if your mindless fanboy brains will allow it:

    1) Chinese people aren't allowed to subscribe to WoW, by Chinese law. The game in China is virtually F2P.
    2) According to previous Blizzard earnings calls, two years ago, more than 60% of WoW players were chinese.
    3) The proportion of US & EU players has dropped dramatically.
    4) The "total sub number" holding steady can ONLY be accounted for by an increasing number of chinese players.

    There is only one conclusion. Activision Blizzard is misleading both players and shareholders by enveloping the chinese market into the subscription count.
    Some people think they are way smarter then other people. They are the shareholders of the biggest MMO created ever (and might be shareholders of other companies as well). They are way smarter then you are and know FAR more then you do. They are shareholders for a reason and you just a normal poster on MMOC.

    You just made something in your mind and now think it's the truth. EU and US players have dropped drastically? You have proof of that? I don't think so. Subs being stable is because Chinese players are increasing? Any evidence? Don't think so. Chinese players do subscribe to WoW but through the Chinese system and the system keeps most of the subs payment while providing a little percentage to Blizzard. Stop posting nonsense and come with REAL arguments along with facts. WoW's subs are stable when the game is in the most horrible position has been ever. And people are finding it difficult to take. Here is the truth, the worst state of WoW, might be worst for you, but not other people. And what does this excellent feature has to do with subs in the first place? Are you saying Blizzard is fooling people by adding a ridiculously awesome feature?

    OT: Blizzard you are an inspiration. This is a step further to make large servers which will overcome all the population and progress problems some servers face. In the future it might be that we have 20-30 giant servers instead of 90-100 small ones. I'm guessing this was Blizzard's plan after all. But it can't be done in a year or two, so they are going about it slowly, adding up things one by one to avoid destorying the game.

    This is a major slap in the face of the all current "new" MMORPGs. With all their new technology they still can't out think Blizz who is using outdated technology for their game. Simply brilliant. WoW competitors might be shivering and hating themselves after reading all this (and so will the WoW-haters).

    Bring on this feature. Even though I didn't plan to level a character. This feature is encouraging me too. Just to want to experience this amazing feature personally.
  1. Maxilian's Avatar
    Well i really like these idea, but there are some points that people have to see:

    -Server will merge with one of the same tipe... PVP with PVP, PVE with PVE, RP with RP, and so on...

    -PVP server: You don't like the idea to get ganked, well yeah that will happen but look at the good part, it will be easier to make a PVP event in X place and that would be AWESOME!

    -Farming: Yeah, these will bring a lot of problem to farming mobs/nodes and all those things, but these may be seen in the PTR and (i hope) Blizzard may fix these problem (More nodes/mops, or just don't make Nodes/unique mobs crossrealm -unless you're in party with someone of another realm-)

    -RP: There is no problem here (Withouth counting the problem certains servers are AKA: moonguard), but these will bring the possibility for people to comunicate and make much more RP event

    -But i like the peace of lvling all alone and no be bothered by others people..., i know these feeling :P, but well what we can do about it? WOW is a MMO so nothing can be done :S
  1. mmoc853b96da04's Avatar
    Not sure I like this: There are times when it's good to be alone in the world. I remember getting up early every day for weeks, to farm rares in Northrend for the achievement.

    Likewise, early morning miners may be unhappy too.

    Technically it's really impressive, of course. But they still need to merge the AH's.
  1. BenBos's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Nailien View Post
    I really like the idea but also think they are overcomplicating things a little. I think underpopulated realms merging would be more beneficial to both players and Blizzard..
    Merging servers is never a solution because it fixes things for a limited time AND the present day content of WoW is this HUGE one full crowded server is not enough to populate all zones and all content.

    This techique is a REVOLUTION in a fantasy based MMORP design. It is reversed ingeneering, in that you no longer create instances on ONE Server to control huge populations at the start of an expansion.

    No this technique does the OPPOSITE, it populates low pop zones from different servers and this is done ... Seamlessly, not a loafing screen in sigh !.

    In fact you could say that instead of playing with 5k players per faction on your server, you now play with ... 20 or 30 times that number to populate your world in low pop zones only. In fact they could go to 100 times. The potential is limitless.

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