How does a progressive realm work?

Lets assume I would join Lordaeron in 1 year and
all content including ICC HC is already released.
How would I need to gear up on such a progressive realm?
For example, would in need to clean Naxx to be able to join ToC and after cleaning ToC I can join ICC?
In that case a pve guild could just carry me once through all 3 raids and afterward I just farm ICC and avoid the other raids.
Or does progressive mean that I need a certain gear to be able to join the next raid? For example full Naxx set to be able to join ToC.
Or does progressive mean that the raids are just released in a progressive way and once all content is released I can gear up like on the other wotlk realms?
Also how will donations work on such a realm? Would I be able to buy the best gear straight a way or is there some limitation? For example, I need to have DBW normal to be able to buy DBW hc.

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Originally Posted by Jakkre

Or does progressive mean that the raids are just released in a progressive way and once all content is released I can gear up like on the other wotlk realms?

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I assume its the latter one, but you can never be too sure, since they might do it the other way.
And its not confirmed of being progressive realm I yet

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Originally Posted by Chibiske

I assume its the latter one, but you can never be too sure, since they might do it the other way.
And its not confirmed of being progressive realm I yet

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Imo this would be sad because when all content is released older raids like Naxx and Ulduar would just be skipped like on the other wotlk realms. :/

Progressive means that raids will be released in progressive way. Since it will be x1 realm don't expect ICC rep farms simply because it will take ages to reach exalted simply by farming mobs inside ICC.

You won't be able to buy BiS gear instantly, you will need to have lower tier item to buy higher. For example you need to have DBW normal to buy DBW hc in coin shop.

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Originally Posted by BesmrtnikDW

Progressive means that raids will be released in progressive way. Since it will be x1 realm don't expect ICC rep farms simply because it will take ages to reach exalted simply by farming mobs inside ICC.

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Well, if this gonna be the case then the whole character of a progressive realm will be just a temporary thing until all content is released.

On the other hand, other ways of progression would require heavy custom changes. For example if a certain item lvl is required to be able to enter the next raid, then it would be very complicated because there are dungeons like PoS that reward already higher item lvl gear than raids like Naxx. Dungeons would also need a item level requirement and also the rewarded emblems of dungeons and raids would need to change depending on the item level of the character to stop that ppl just farm 5 man hc dungeons and collect Emblems of Triumph to buy the ToC gear straight away.

After all it would need to be a very very complex system and there would probably be ways to abuse it to gear up faster.

Well it can't be helped anyway. However if you want good gear you will need to join guild.

There will probably be some restrictions to force you to progress through each piece of content, gear and achievements gradually, and I think only a few raids will be open to begin with. There will be many limitations with the shops, you won't be able to buy legendary gear, and the item availability will be based on realm's progression.

Other servers have set up systems where you need to complete all the lesser RDFs and raids before you can complete the more advanced ones, and you need to complete certain raids before you can start collecting emblems. Restrictions on gear have also been used too, where each instance has an item level restriction.

Obviously Warmane's idea of a progressive realm will be completely different, but you get the gist. Whether they release all content gradually, or release most things with restrictions probably also depends on population.