Newly launched progression servers are always bustling with activity at launch and players are concentrated around a limited number of available low level zones to explore as a simple by product of everyone starting from scratch. I think we view this as a win. How about this: progression server where the new expansion alters the level of current players down(or up) to the starting level of that content. For instance: Original EQ - all level 1 Kunark - all level 1 Velious - all 20ish? Luclin - all level 1 PoP - all level 46? etc... These numbers are abrituary but the idea is to concentrate the "newb" areas again for each expansion release in order to emulate a more true-to-era feel for each release (as far at group matching goes) What about those player's whose only interest is in maxing? Maybe give them an option to opt out on a per character basis but limit the character's access to the newest released content (or something). I don't know... figure it out. It's a game, let them game it. I don't know how to suggest handling of equipment progression (don't care either, I enjoy my twinks).
So you get to level 50 in classic & everyone gets reset back to level 1 once Kunark unlocks? Seems like an utterly stupid idea if so.
