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.
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: 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.
Last edited by Bonita on Thu May 10, 2012 10:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sig made by Iggypuff Credit to Sookie, Kurenio, Thorka and Karin for the amazing sigs they made me and Kurenio, Thorka and Seilahyn for the awesome avatars. Flight Rising!
I think this is a wonderful idea! I'm so excited! Just think, we can get a Petopian Real ID raid together or something and just stand in a zone and hang out or meet each other.
I'm wondering..... how would rare pets figure into this?
would it go by timers in one "instanced" zone? or say you saw a rare you wanted just tamed, you could hop into anothers "instance" and then have a completely different timer?
*edit*
That might make certain rares even MORE rare. Just think, say something like Sholozar was cross realm, 4 different realms of population able to stumble across KK or Loque.
Hmmmm (just beta for now)
Last edited by Royi on Thu May 10, 2012 5:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Good question about rares, I wonder how they'll work. I'm assuming if a rare is in a cross-realm zone then everyone who steps foot in it will be in the same phase, therefore the rare will have the same timer for everyone. I guess it just means more competition possibly.
If you can tame a pet in a cross realm dungeon I don't see why you wouldn't be able to do the same in a cross realm zone. I'm all fine with more competition for rares too. As of now most old world rares aren't really rare anymore with the reduced spawn timers.
Iiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnteresting. Although I must say, being able to group with some folks from here would be neat!
Acherontia wrote:
It's like daring someone to go insult a bunch of kindly old nuns. You'll wind up going back to your friends with a story about how they smiled at your insults and tried to give you cookies, or something.
I'm never going to get Loque with this in place... *cry*
Also, how will this work for RP realms, which already have strong RPs going. Will they just have to suddenly merge with other largely built up RP, and what if they're merged with non-RP realms, that'll piss way too many RPers off IMO.
IDK, I think this can be a great idea, but it seems like it'll be implemented poorly.
MY suggestion would to have this feature as optional, being able to toggle from Realm to Battlegroup zones, that way, people who don't want this feature don't have to put up with it.
Sig made by the Wonderful Serenith!
"You cannot judge me, I am Justice itself! We were meant for more than this, to protect the innocent. But, if our precious laws bind you all to inaction, then I will no longer stand as your brother." - Tyrael
I'm never going to get Loque with this in place... *cry*
Or.....I see Loque pretty frequently on my realm. We could technically group up through realid and I could summon you to a Loque just waiting to be tamed.
I'm never going to get Loque with this in place... *cry*
Or.....I see Loque pretty frequently on my realm. We could technically group up through realid and I could summon you to a Loque just waiting to be tamed.
From what I read though, strictly realm zones won't be available. It'll be a battlegroup zone, and the rares will all be available to everyone in all 4 (or however many) realms. I don't think it'll help any. IDK, I'm hoping this becomes toggle-able, otherwise I'm not sure how great it'll be...
Sig made by the Wonderful Serenith!
"You cannot judge me, I am Justice itself! We were meant for more than this, to protect the innocent. But, if our precious laws bind you all to inaction, then I will no longer stand as your brother." - Tyrael
You bring up a good point with RP servers, Gimlion. This will be a double-edged sword. RPers on RP servers that are "dead" would be able to RP with others without transferring. This could even lead to some massive RP events if anyone could organize it. However, the griefing. It's bad enough on an RP server now add PvE/PvP servers to the mix.
At least we know cities won't be cross-realm, so keeping RP in the cities (as much as I hate that most of the RP takes place in Silvermoon on horde side), will be the best way to cut down on people from other servers trying to grief RP events.
A rare visitor to this forum now that I don't play WoW anymore, but forever a Petopian.
Vephriel wrote:I think this is a wonderful idea! I'm so excited! Just think, we can get a Petopian Real ID raid together or something and just stand in a zone and hang out or meet each other.
I vote for not-Sholazar.
And for Korii to wear pants.
(I know full well that neither of these things is going to happen as stated. )
They won't be mixing realm types, so RP realms will only be grouped with other RP realms:
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.
Vephriel wrote:They won't be mixing realm types, so RP realms will only be grouped with other RP realms:
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.
Well boo, can't bring Kalliope to visit then. I see how that makes sense for most, though.
Vephriel wrote:They won't be mixing realm types, so RP realms will only be grouped with other RP realms:
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.
Well boo, can't bring Kalliope to visit then. I see how that makes sense for most, though.
Ah ok. I must have missed that.
A rare visitor to this forum now that I don't play WoW anymore, but forever a Petopian.
Just think, we can get a Petopian Real ID raid together or something and just stand in a zone and hang out or meet each other.
~ Formally known as Royi ~
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