WoW Classic + Burning Crusade

[reilly217]

Classic + / Burning Crusade & Classic WoW

Recently, a survey has circulated regarding Classic WoW players and what they thought of a Burning Crusade Expansion and 4 ways to implement it. I'll keep this short as possible. Firstly, I'm happy to be playing WoW Classic. From the world PVP, bumping into players doing the same quest as you, even just the community itself. Wether it's helping randoms players or trying to buff every player you pass or the kind help of a total stranger because he's simply nearby and can help you with a quest he or she may have already completed. WoW Classic has revived that feeling once again. Moving on...

I am a game developer, and still study Game Design when not playing WoW. The idea of Burning Crusade would be great. In fact, I would like to see WOTLK classic in the future. Here's a few ways I can see it working without having to split the fan base up again. That should and always be the focus point from here on out when it comes to handling the future of Classic Wow is, community. WoW have already split the game into Retail and Classic. It would be unwise to continue seperating the game into its corresponding expansions and restricting player interaction onto different servers. Here is what I suggest

Firstly

FORCE CURRENT SERVERS TO BURNING CRUSADE CAPABILITIES

Yes absolutely, do this. Keep the audience you have already and build on it. As mentioned before why seperate WoW into three categories is just pointless and you will have servers with minimal players as and if future expansions such as WOTLK are to come. Don't force players to chose between the two. This is critical.

CHOICE

In the Retail Version of WoW players would be familiar with the window that comes up once you load into game. A new area, new quests or something new to do in game. Apply the same method that will give players an option to decide how they want to participate in the exisiting world without slicing the population in half.

WHAT CHOICE?

It's Simple, STAY AT 60 or VENTURE TO THE OUTLANDS

Now there are lot's to consider here so lets just run through some of the main concerns people may havethat would arise with this feature. I will ellaborate in detail. Give players the choice, they can stay at 60 or proceed to 70 if they wish to do so. Also if you stay at 60, it's not permanent. You can always access the future content without missing out on Classic WoW and here is what needs to be implemented.

CLASSIC RAIDS USING 61+ CHARACTERS TO DEFEAT BOSSES

Lets keep it fair. If you're classic raid group has a level 61 or higher, you cannot access any Classic Raid. In fact if you shouldn't be able to invite the player until the Burning Crusade player uses a feature discussed below "Time - Warp"

BURNING CRUSADE PLAYERS SOLOING CLASSIC RAIDS

Sure, you can however, you don't get Loot. Just coins. Yep. I'll explain why later because this will conflict with the Wardrobe System I will speak about shortly.
and here it is....

BURNING CRUSADE PLAYERS TIME-WARP FEATURE

You can probably guess where this is going. Time-Warp Feature, that can be accessed by Burning Crusade Players will have the option of reverting back to 60. Why on earth would they do this? Well here is something to think about.
Did you're friends or Guild stay in Classic? Worry not, you can go back to Classic 60 and do the classic content with them at anytime. Battlegrounds, Arena, Raids!!! or just plain ol Ganking in Classic World PVP if that is your thing.
This option can be reversed obviously and when done so the Burning Crusade Player returns to their Burning Crusade Level where they left off and can continue on in the Outlands as normal.
(This gives players a chance to interact with those that wish to stay in Classic and do classic stuff without having to splice your game into 2 again.)

World PVP

Now... This will implement the same Time-Warp Feature but in an automatic fashion.
When a Burning Crusade player enters Classic Areas a total of three triggers will take place that will change the experience for the BC Player.

Trigger 1 - The Level 60 Wardrobe

The Wardrobe is a feature for players that HAVE selected to proceed in the Burning Crusade content. All items from level 50-60 can be placed into the Wardrobe at no cost. The item is saved in the wardrobe forever and all the goods from Classic Raids will save up some of that Bank space for Burning Crusade Players as they are dealing with more mats and items to deal with.

Only character worn items (between level 50-60) can be placed into the Level 60 Wardrobe. No food bandages mats etc etc.

From here the player can select a preset outfit that he or she would use if the character reverts to 60. This should also be customisable whilst the player is in Burning Crusade content.
Similar to the saved outfits feature in retail.

No item from Burning Crusade can be stored into the Level 60 Wardrobe.

A preset outfit is what you will wear automatically when entering any Classic Content or Area.

As mention before Burning Crusade Players soloing or grouping with players above level 61 in Classic Raids will not be able to access loot. So you cannot use a higher level character to obtain pieces from classic to use should you revert back to 60!

The Wardrobe is not a cosmetic function and should not carry over the transmog system from retail. This is a storage system that is for the sole purpose of re-using gear unlocked from classic once a Burning Crusade Player reverts to Classic 60.

Trigger 2 - Display Action Bar Settings

Self-explanatory. The settings of your 60 play style might be different to your life in the Outlands. To get around that, this is an option that is provided to accomodate and alternate between both a level 60 and Burning Crusade play-style. This should be done automatically when a player decides to Time-Warp their character.

Trigger 3 - Stats, Talents and Spells

You will have the same base stats as you would if you were in classic. Spells/Talents added in the Burning Crusade will be removed for use. It would be like you never left Classic Wow.

Burning Crusade Player Auto Time-Warp + The Level 60 Wardrobe

Auto Time-Warp would refer to a Burning Crusade Player that enters any area that is Classic and the Player is adjusted to Classic WoW paramaters.
The Burning Crusade items worn by the Player will be moved into an additional unique bag slot.

This additional bag slot will ONLY contain Burning Crusade items the player was wearing before the player uses Time-Warp or is automatically forced to Time-Warp for instance; Entering a Classic Zone.

When a Burning Crusade Player re-enters Burning Crusade content the items stored in this additional bag are then placed back onto the player along with Display Action Bar Settings and Stats Talents and Spells.

Burning Crusade Player Manual Time-Warp

A manual Time-Warp is for when players knowingly want to queue or join groups for raids, battlegrounds or arena in the Classic 60 phase.

Note that a Burning Crusade Player cannot join a classic group or raid until he or she manually reverts the character to 60.

This will allow the player to swap items easier as if he or she was playing classic as it is today rather then relying on auto adjusting items to the area.

Note that the Auto Time-Warp is essentially used for when a Burning Crusade Player enters Classic Content should he or she forget to Time-Warp manually.
Also a notification should prompt informing a Player that the Character has been reverted to 60.

CONCLUSION

Thank you for your time. I understand this would take alot more planning and coding but, given the success of WoW Classic this is not an unacheivable feature. There is NO IMPACT on World PVP with Classic vs Burning Crusade as Classic can only access Classic areas and Burning Crusade Players are reverted back to the 60 status upon entering a WoW Classic Zone. Guilds and friends won't have to part ways with each other, as playing with Classic Players still has incentive to do the Classic Raids and PVP to get gear to play amongst friends that have decided to stay in Classic WoW content. There are so many benefits to having this and this could also create alternative and NEW game modes and pvp arenas or battlegrounds.

I have to reinforce the main objective here is DON'T SPLIT YOUR GAME UP AGAIN.
I thank you for your time. I may not have thought of every scenario or problems that can be faced with this idea but if there is anything you feel that would need further explaining I am happy to collaborate or come up with ways to get around issues with those who are interested. Pass This Around.

Kind Regards
Reilly

[Domm530]

Lol theirs not gonna be a choice,


Current servers will automaticly roll to a burning crusade server, and with that, they will make a nee classic server that will start from scratch IF the demand is there

[VinceVega]

That just sound to convoluted...
Just keep it seperate. New BC servers where you can copy your character to or start a new lvl 58 char.

So you get BC and also the classic purists are happy. NEVER EVER will those agree to a split Classic/BC server. Not in a million years.

[Elias01]

Nope fact you have to alredy put so many systems and different rules in place tells you that this is bad desing.

[Mirishka]

This sounds really convoluted.
The options presented in the Blizzard survey seemed reasonable.

The whole "Classic +" idea is silly. There's absolutely no indication of Blizzard going to that direction

Especially considering Blizz themselves shot it down at Blizzcon, when they said that they were not going to add things that weren't a part of the original vanilla experience.

- - - Updated - - -

Lets keep it fair. If you're classic raid group has a level 61 or higher, you cannot access any Classic Raid. In fact if you shouldn't be able to invite the player until the Burning Crusade player uses a feature discussed below "Time - Warp"

BURNING CRUSADE PLAYERS SOLOING CLASSIC RAIDS

Sure, you can however, you don't get Loot. Just coins. Yep. I'll explain why later because this will conflict with the Wardrobe System I will speak about shortly.
and here it is....

BURNING CRUSADE PLAYERS TIME-WARP FEATURE

Stuff like this is exactly the kind of 'feedback' Blizz is wise to ignore. Terrible suggestions.

Part of the allure of leveling beyond outdated content is the ability to go back and smash through what was previously challenging. Suggesting that Blizz take that away from players for the sake of your own nonsensical ideas is just plain dumb.

[Evolixe]

This is never going to work, there are too many variables and there are reasons that people want TBC that aren't solved with your suggested systems

There are enough people that want just classic, and enough people that want just TBC, for them to be able to exist in their own ecosystems.
The only thing is that some people might have to say goodbye to some old friends and make a few new ones.
Nothing much different than from what already happened with classic as it is now though.

[Shuji V2]

This is way to convoluted as others have said.

I would simply propose two separate layers per server, one classic and one tbc. Before launch, Blizzard will make a carbon copy of all your characters on classic and puts them on TBC layer. To avoid economic issues, no gold and resources can be transferred over (perhaps a small amount). Anything that is soulbound will. Additionally guilds/pvp standings/etc and what not will carry over from classic as well. To play TBC or switch back to Classic, simply switch layer in the character selection screen to switch between expansion. Your Classic character will always stay classic, and you can progress to TBC with that same character and evolve it totally different from your classic character. Seems the best way to preserve communities as they are and keep faction balance in check.

[Zarator8]

By your reasoning, OP, they should have never released Classic to begin with, and keep everyone on Retail.

The very fact Blizzard is going with this whole Classic trilogy seems to hint that they disagree with your sentiment that everybody should be forced onto the same game. Diversifying their offer is the best way to catch the largest audience possible, as long as they can do so while maintaining viable populations for each iteration of the game.

[lollerlaban]

No. Your system is beyond retarded and it will never be implemented.

[Nnyco]

Imagine having to add like 10rules on everythin just to make it work a lil bit.

[schwank05]

The only way I see BC servers working is to give the option to transfer a lvl 60 from a Classic server (NOT COPY!) this forces a hard decision for someone to make either you stay as a God at lvl 60 on Classic or you have to move to BC servers which for me is a no brainer, but for many it will be a hard choice. Likewise I think there should be an option to create a new character at lvl 58 and play through the BC content, or if some crazy person likes leveling they can start at lvl one.

- - - Updated - - -

The only way I see BC servers working is to give the option to transfer a lvl 60 from a Classic server (NOT COPY!) this forces a hard decision for someone to make either you stay as a God at lvl 60 on Classic or you have to move to BC servers which for me is a no brainer, but for many it will be a hard choice. Likewise I think there should be an option to create a new character at lvl 58 and play through the BC content, or if some crazy person likes leveling they can start at lvl one.

They could simply figure out how to do Mega servers and get it over with and then release a PVE and PVP server for every expansion then let people play the xpac they want creating a new character at 58 for BC, 68 for Wrath, and so on and so on. This would allow people to play 1 single server they love or all of them if they wish. I would love to simply play BC/ WRATH indefinitely.

[Unholyground]

Nope, new servers. The classic people did not bitch all this time to have TBC forced on them again.

[arkanon]

What an absolute fucking mess. Terrible design, absolutely terrible.

[ymirsson]

Whats up with your font size? You think your audience is visually impaired?
Also, no.

[Unholyground]

Lol theirs not gonna be a choice,


Current servers will automaticly roll to a burning crusade server, and with that, they will make a nee classic server that will start from scratch IF the demand is there

No they won't, the whole idea of classic is to keep it classic, TBC will be its own thing with the option of transferring any of your characters one time. Mark my words that is how it will go down.

[Bhanzai]

Let's take something simple and make it difficult!!

[Cæli]

I don't think you understand the point of classic realms

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

Or they could just open Burning Crusade Classic and let you import your level 60 (or transfer it) there and now there's no need to worry about stuff like "World PvP" or "What about BC players soloing old raids?"

Classic stays purely classic, for the players who absolutely hate BC. BC exists for those that want the superior version.

[Hctaz]

Nope, new servers. The classic people did not bitch all this time to have TBC forced on them again.

That's the point of Classic +


Everybody in this thread is missing the point entirely: Releasing separate BC servers will have a direct impact/kill off Classic WoW.

Classic + is a way to have both versions of the game playable by one singular character on one singular server without making BC invalidate all of the Classic content.

[Unholyground]

That's the point of Classic +


Everybody in this thread is missing the point entirely: Releasing separate BC servers will have a direct impact/kill off Classic WoW.

Classic + is a way to have both versions of the game playable by one singular character on one singular server without making BC invalidate all of the Classic content.

That is not what the Vanilla Classic people wan't, they will have new TBC servers and they can merge classic servers that have low populations.