A Theory: Expansion for WOW

[Darian]

How do you handle people having two different variants of the game?
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Probably the same way everyone else ever has.

With the new expansion will come new areas, new character classes, new playable races, new quests, new items, and possibly even new level limits and new graphics software upgrades.

Those who don't buy the expansion will be unable to access the new areas, play the new classes or races, do most of the new quests, acquire the new items (unless they are not soulbound), or take advantage of the new graphic upgrades.

However, they will be able to SEE the new classes and races and items (although in some cases they may well get a less-impressive piece of artwork, as was most notably the case when EQ released the Velious expansion). They probably won't be able to exceed the current level cap, either. They won't be segregated from those who do purchase the expansion. That's part of the marketing campaign FOR the expansion; people will see other people playing new classes/races, they'll hear their guildmates talking about the new areas open to them, etc.

Also, I would be deathly surprised if the expansion didn't contain new areas for ALL levels, not just post-60 content.