Blizzard's upcoming World of Warcraft: Forever is set to introduce several distinct rulesets, including Normal, PvP, Hardcore, and Roleplaying. However, a long-time roleplayer and writer for PC Gamer argues that the proposed restrictions for the Roleplaying ruleset are overly strict and may negatively impact the player experience. According to Blizzard's official announcement, players will be unable to group with characters from different rulesets, and switching between them will require creating an entirely new character.
Concerns Over Isolation
The author, with over 15 years of roleplaying experience in World of Warcraft, expresses concern that these measures unnecessarily segment the player base. While acknowledging the need for some separation in the open world where roleplaying primarily occurs, they argue that a more "semi-permeable membrane" would be more appropriate. The current system, which prevents cross-ruleset grouping for activities like dungeons and raids, is seen as an overreach, particularly as most roleplayers engage in standard gameplay content out-of-character. The writer highlights that roleplaying servers in the current game are often populated by players who do not actively roleplay but enjoy the atmosphere or wish to spectate, a dynamic that could be lost with the strict segregation proposed for WoW: Forever.
The Nature of Roleplaying
Roleplaying communities, the author suggests, often operate on informal understandings of in-character (IC) and out-of-character (OOC) conduct. While Blizzard's intention to establish rulesets is understandable, the rigid separation for roleplayers seems to misunderstand the common practice. Many players who roleplay also participate in group content like dungeons and raids, and they typically switch back to a standard out-of-character mindset for these activities. The strict enforcement of rulesets, requiring new characters to switch, is seen as a significant hurdle that could discourage players from participating in the roleplaying community or from playing with friends on different rulesets.
The author notes that while strict naming conventions and behavior rules might be reasonable, the broader isolationist approach to content grouping and character management for roleplayers is the main point of contention. The concern is that this setup could alienate players who want to maintain flexibility in how they engage with the game and its community.