WoW Classic has been out for a week, and as many have pointed out - it has taken the world by storm. So much so, that even its creators have had to scramble to implement hotfixes and patches so the servers could handle the mass of players eager to party like its 2004. Having followed the media coverage of WoW Classic over the last week, I can attest to some of their observations. There are indeed some lengthy queue times for players that are tethered to over-crowded servers, as well as the issue of resources and quest mobs being spread too thin for circa-2004 spawning mechanics. However, despite all of that, the most extraordinary thing to come out of WoW Classic's first week is that for the first time in a very long time, players are actually being good to each other.
as Illidan might say, "they were NOT prepared"
When the servers went live and, after a modest five minute queue time, I was finally able to log in, the nostalgia was palpable. The human starting zone - Elwynn Forest - was absolutely jam-packed and bustling with life. One player exclaimed "We're home!", with many others joining in to share similar sentiments. In a way, they were right - this was the World of Warcraft that we knew as kids, that we grew up on, and that had always been there for us when the real world had worn us too thin.
For many players, myself included, World of Warcraft was more than just a way to pass the time in between school days - it was a refuge from the stresses and anxieties of everyday life; a place to escape the mundane and engage with a vibrant community that was infinitely more favorable than that of your own dead-end town. That first day was filled with moments that reminded me of those days, and as hundreds of other players sprinted about, I had a feeling that I was not the only one excited to begin a new chapter with an old friend.
But then the fire nation attacked.. No, just kidding. It was mostly alright.
As I mentioned, it's fairly clear that Blizzard was not prepared for the massive influx of players WoW Classic received. If lengthy queue times was the first hurdle into getting started down the path to level 60, then the sheer imbalance of players to resources ratio would have to be the second. Back in 2004, there was no "mob sharing" mechanic that allowed players to benefit from a kill even if they were not in the same party - that is a relatively new concept meant to minimize friction for solo players. In the old days, World of Warcraft was defined by its grind, and that notoriety has certainly been felt throughout my time playing thus far - just as it has many others.
Images of players forming lines in an effort to mitigate wait times for key quest mobs have been shared across social media, and it would seem that this phenomena is not unique to any one server or zone. As someone who tried to "respect the line", I can say with certainty that its effectiveness varied greatly - with some instances resulting in a complete implosion that gave way to a total free-for-all. It was as hilarious as it was extraordinary, and even when a few bad eggs ruined other's efforts to maintain order - I was filled with hope that WoW Classic could restore a culture of cooperation and communication that has long-since been sidelined by the core game.
Making my way through the first 10 levels and accomplishing various feats of valor - including but not limited to: braving the Fargodeep mine and defeating the Bloodfish at Jarod's Landing - Players have, more often than not, been cooperative and friendly. This is a quality that has been sorely missed in contemporary World of Warcraft, and it's refreshing to see that fellow adventures are almost always eager to make themselves and their classes's unique abilities useful to a stranger in need. With my character now in his mid-teens, I'm very much looking forward to continuing my journey to max level knowing fully well that my success hinges increasingly more on collaborating with others.
That said, if the previous week serves as any indication to how well WoW Classic's emphasis on team work has been received, I don't have any reason to doubt that my enthusiasm for this 15 year old game will persist well beyond my initial speculation.
