Experience the Fallout in the World of Warcraft Classic on Skeram Server
If you’ve ever wondered how a combination of the Fallout games and World of Warcraft would look like, look no further than the US’s Skeram Classic server. This server is heavily dominated by the Horde, and stepping into their world means being outnumbered 49 to 1.
However, this dominance on Skeram is more than just a curiosity. It serves as a lesson for Blizzard on how to avoid mismanagement and balance out servers.
Server Imbalance on Skeram
Once a bustling hub, Skeram now sees very little activity. During prime times, there are barely any max-level characters online, making it challenging to build a full raid team. For example, at 5pm CT, there were only 22 max-level players online.
The Cause of Imbalance
The imbalance on Skeram is a result of the launch of World of Warcraft Classic and different types of players joining the servers. Some were newbies trying out the game, others were experienced players seeking nostalgia, and some were elitist players aiming for perfection.
The servers brought together players of all types, leading to an unbalance in faction populations, especially on one-faction dominated servers like Skeram. This eventually caused frustration among low-level character players.
Blizzard’s Attempt to Address the Issue
After noticing the severe faction imbalance on certain servers, including Skeram, Blizzard offered free faction transfers to help balance out the populations. However, this solution backfired as instead of Horde players transferring, Alliance players started moving, increasing the Horde to Alliance ratio from 6:4 to 49:1 on Skeram.
The Result of Imbalance
The severe faction imbalance resulted in unbalanced servers where auction houses are empty, PvP scenes are non-existent, and gameplay becomes dull for the dominated faction.
Though players no longer have to wait in queues to enter the game, they lack players to interact with on Skeram.
Possible Solutions and Closing Thoughts
Other MMOs have faced similar issues and found successful solutions. One possible solution is implementing faction-specific queues to enter the game, encouraging players to move voluntarily. Additionally, Blizzard’s free transfer offer could have been more limited to control faction shifts.
In hindsight, there may have been other actions Blizzard could have taken to address faction imbalance, but it’s important to consider the data and infrastructure limitations they faced.
If you’re looking for a unique gaming experience, roll a character on Skeram and witness the constant struggle for survival against overwhelming odds.