Choosing a server in World of Wacraft can be a difficult task, especially when 250 different possibilities are available. By following the next steps, however, you can find out how to choose a server that fits your play style and makes your World of Warcraft adventure as enjoyable as possible.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing Your Style of Play
Step 1. Decide what kind of server you would like to play on
World of Warcraft offers servers specifically designed for very different playstyles, so that players can find themselves in the company of other people with similar interests:
- Player vs. Environment (PvE) (player versus environment): the main objective of the players is to explore the game world and defeat the enemies who, in this case, are not other players. Some examples of PvE content are dungeons and raids, where players must work together to kill more powerful enemies.
- Player vs. Player (PvP) (player against player): players can fight against each other anywhere and at any time.
- Role Playing (RP): Players impersonate their character and act via chat and action, creating unique stories.
- RP / PvP (RPG and Player vs. Player): Suitable for those who love both RPG and combat against other players.
- Remember that the type of server you choose will not prevent you from having access to the other types of games; for example it is possible to do PvP on PvE servers, although it is certainly less frequent.
Step 2. Choose how crowded the game should be and evaluate your computer's performance
Highly populated servers and virtually empty servers have different advantages and disadvantages:
- On highly populated servers, you will encounter other players everywhere. The game will feel more like a real world. There will be a greater choice of guilds to join, where you can meet new friends and socialize. A highly populated server, however, can be a problem for some computers, due to the large amount of characters that the processor must play at the same time. In addition, at busy times, you may find a queue to enter. When you find a queue, it means that there are too many people on the server. You will then be placed on a waiting list, until enough people have left to allow you access.
- Medium population servers are a common choice because there is never a queue to enter, but there are still enough people to feel involved in the game.
- Low population servers do not tire the computer even in places where there are usually a lot of people. It is also impossible to find a queue to enter. While exploring the game world, it is possible not to meet other players for hours. There are also fewer guilds and it is more difficult to create one from scratch.
Step 3. Choose the faction you want to fight for
The story of World of Warcraft is based on two rival factions, the Horde and the Alliance. Many servers are biased in favor of one faction, meaning they have an overwhelming majority of Horde or Alliance players. This is an important point to consider, especially if you want to play on a PvP server. If your faction is in the minority, it may be more difficult to win in open combat.
If there are fewer players in your faction, it will be more difficult to find a group to tackle raids and dungeons (using the search tool)
Part 2 of 3: Narrowing the Possibilities Using Realm Pop
Step 1. Open Realm Pop
Open an internet window by clicking on the appropriate icon on your desktop. Type "wow.realmpop.com" in the address bar. From here you can select the desired region.
Realm Pop is an external site that takes care of finding detailed information on all game servers. Using it you can then facilitate the selection process
Step 2. Choose a region
From the Realm Pop home page select the region whose servers you want to check.
- US Region: will allow you to view all WOW servers in the US area.
- EU Region: will allow you to view all WOW servers in the European area.
Step 3. Sort by population
In the upper right corner of the table, click on "Total" to sort the servers by total population.
Step 4. Scroll the table until you find a total population that fits your preferences
Low-population servers have fewer than 100,000 characters, medium-population servers between 100,000 and 160,000, and high-population servers more than 160,000.
Step 5. Look for servers in your area that offer a type of game that matches your style
The fourth column of the table lists the server zones and the second the server type.
Step 6. Look for a server connected to your time zone
The fifth column of the table shows the primary time zone for the selected server.
Joining a server connected to your time zone is useful, as other players will also have similar times to yours and it will be easier to meet people to play with
Step 7. Choose a server where your faction is in the majority
The eighth column of the table contains the A / H ratio, which is the number of Alliance players compared to those of the Horde. A ratio of less than 1.0 favors the Horde, a higher than 1.0 the Alliance.
- If you plan on having characters from both sides, choose a server with an A / O ratio as close to 0 as possible.
- It is generally best to choose a server where your faction is in the majority, to have a better chance of finding groups to do dungeons and raids. Since unity is strength, it is also a fundamental aspect for PvP servers.
Part 3 of 3: Reflect on Other Factors
At this point it is likely that you have found a server that will ensure you have the best possible experience. If you're still confused, here are a couple of other factors that might help you make up your mind.
Step 1. Choose a server your friends play on
If you have friends who already play on a specific server, joining them could make your gaming experience more fun.
Alternatively, if a friend of yours already plays somewhere else, but is still available to create a character on a new server, ask him which one he thinks is the best of the servers on which you are undecided
Step 2. Choose a server because you like its name
If you are still undecided, you can always choose a server whose name you like. Some players, for simplicity, may in fact prefer to play on "Thrall" rather than on "Khaz'gorath".
