This is more of an observation than a criticism
You could argue that people are just happy to have an event... you could also look at the numbers and see clearly people rather play with lower-level characters with no or few MLS/basic templates than playing a fully-fledged level 50 RVR experience.
So during this event I've been doing 4 things
1. I've been participating in the event up until level 30-35
2. Been playing live (level 50) and seeing the impact of the event (only on a solo level - it killed RVR)
3. Gaheris - Some from Gaheris seemed to log over to live to try the event, but it's just that, the event
4. overall across all of the above and the conclusion was:
People enjoy/enjoyed this event, more than they enjoy the current level 50/templated RVR and that is just fact.
Summary: Based on this, I think a classic server would flourish as odd as that sounds, why? because people clearly want a new/equal footing rather than RR1-4 vs RR8-13 on live, that much is evident.
Again, this is only my opinion and what I've gathered during this event. Feel free to discuss further.
So during this event I've been doing 4 things
1. I've been participating in the event up until level 30-35
2. Been playing live (level 50) and seeing the impact of the event (only on a solo level - it killed RVR)
3. Gaheris - Some from Gaheris seemed to log over to live to try the event, but it's just that, the event
4. overall across all of the above and the conclusion was:
People enjoy/enjoyed this event, more than they enjoy the current level 50/templated RVR and that is just fact.
Summary: Based on this, I think a classic server would flourish as odd as that sounds, why? because people clearly want a new/equal footing rather than RR1-4 vs RR8-13 on live, that much is evident.
Again, this is only my opinion and what I've gathered during this event. Feel free to discuss further.
Comments
Personally, I think a classic server with a fresh start entices more subs than a current server, again, that's my personal opinion.
I'd wager real-life money on a fresh start (done properly) bringing in more revenue and interest than current-day servers... as subjective as that may sound I stand by it.
People don't play private servers because they're free @John_Broadsword and @Carol_Broadsword they play them because the GM's listen. all you have to do is listen.. you'd take a hit but you'd gain so much more if you just listenened.
but I think just as important as the points you made are the fact that action is constant. I think the event has shown that NF in its design is not fit for purpose for the current population.
People are playing the event because it's an event, a short duration thing that changes it up from the regular RvR that's beennthe same for 19 years. For sure it'll draw a crowd.
Now what makes this event fun...
Constant action, small map, no boating porting, just run out and bam action. The biggest complain on Ywain is the size of NF vs pop. So yeah, having an event where players are concentrated in a small area is going to be fun.
You could say that "well classic server will have more pop"... Any new server with any ruleset will have drastically more pop than ywain, it's just the effect of novelty.
Current level cap is 45, we just started getting MLs and everything, so it seems to be too early to say that people enjoy the event because it doesn't have ToA...
Maybe returning players will start getting overwhelmed with the quantity of abilities as MLs, artifacts and templates become a thing. That could be an argument towards "classic".
And yes, people play shards because it's free. There are other factors but you can't dismiss one of the biggest difference between the official game and a shard...
Yes, Broadsword made the same mistake with Curse and OW campaigns in regard to phasing out old equipment with new (DF revamp was fine minus the ablative stacking which has also been corrected). However, not only have they reduced the equipment disparity by cutting /use and proc values, they've also introduced a clear path for everyone to access end game items without having to grind for countless hours or field thousands of plat (see Bountycraft). It's probably the singular best change they've made since taking over other than maybe Supremacy potions.
What this all boils down to, for me, is the classic crowd wants a simpler game. One template to cap all stats involving mostly SC armor, minimal to no /use charges, less than three bars worth of abilities, and a large grind to keep "try hards" from pulling away too quickly to maintain a psuedo level playing field. Not a single classic person has asked for dynamic events which is literally what this game needs to stay interesting after 20 years. Yet, it's the most praised implementation on the "other side".
While I agree that a new server, even if classic, will yield thousands of players, there's no way it will maintain that number. I personally think this event is a test run for an actual progression server, as it was stated before by BS that they believe Ywain is THE game. That said, more events that are similar to this one down the road will likely be better for DAoC as a whole. The real issue is whether or not they can overcome technical barriers that prohibits them from making creative adjustments.
The reason(s) why a new server should be "classic" is primarily a matter of resources (or lack thereof). By far the easiest way to change the game is to go back to something that once was. In general, this is also a failure of imagination from players ("please bring back OF", "please bring back ruined keep", etc.)
I look forward to the new server, but I have no desire for a classic experience (although I'm open to it), so I think it is a very interesting question: Why should a new server be classic? This is why I recently suggested to pro-Ywain players that a new server to *replace* Ywain might not be a terrible idea, because it would solve the problem of splitting players (which is a HUGE problem). The suggestion was not received well.
I agree that they should have a classic server but I do not agree with a reboot they made it really easy to compete now a days for people to just step in and play. But if they make a classic rule set server does that mean no scripting? I thing it should bring it back to the essence of game play the grind to get levels and gear that is what classic should truly be about.
I also don't see why people do not like DAOC with everything past SI. I like the new abilities and faster casting. Makes he game faster in a way. Like its already been stated, BS has made getting MLs easy. I mean your Atari 2600 was a great console. but it doesn't compete with the PS 5.