[Help] Where to begin for a WoW Private server.

[rhoadsofrock]

Hello. I don't believe I've ever posted on this site, so I guess I'll say hi here anyway, and brielfy explain what's going on....
(NOTE: Skip the next paragraph if you want, just boring intro on why I want a private server!!)

I got into WoW in summer of 2008 (so VERY shortly before Wrath of The Lich King was released), and over the course of playing the game (on retail this is) I've learned a lot about the game, heard and read about what all has changed over it's history with patches and expansions, and the more and more I see and discover of the past, always makes me wish I'd gotten into the game from day one. So of course there is no going back, and Blizzard are too stupid to release any kind of Classic / Vanilla servers and possibly earn some extra $ from the nostalgic players, OR ones that were left out of it all together!

So.... as the title of this post says, where do I begin with creating a private server?
I currently play on retail still, and I've played on over 10 private servers before, and just like I've seen other personal opinions in other threads, they were crap..... However I'm more than willing to learn how to create one.

I also want to know how far back it's possible to make a private server. I've been on one that was 1.12.1, but I was wondering if making one that's like just the game alone, completely unpatched (I guess 1.0....) is possible?
I only ask how far back they can be made, because of certain elements in the game that have annoyed me (like the newer style mounts in 1.4..... and the redesign / revamp of Silithus in 1..

This is all probably a dumb thing to ask about, especially with myself not having much experience at all in doing something like this, and I really hope it's ok to ask this anyway, as I said I think this is the first time I've posted on the site

Anyways please help me with this. Thanks in advance.

[Kiev]

Wasn't the first version of WoW 1.2.1? Im not sure as i didnt play that far back, but im sure someone could find a way to create one, even though it would take a long time.

Also just for any WoW server at whatever version, just look in the guides forum here, it's a great help for you

[pinktruffle]

I would suggest getting some teleporters in setting it up so people start at level 80 or whatever level you want and getting some vendors in and making a mall ( i think you can go all the way back to the begining)

[Kiev]

People who play a 1.2 private server probably wouldn't want to be 80, they'd like a blizzlike experience, get all the instances working etc, then create custom content too.

[rhoadsofrock]

Would you kindly point me to a guide?
Anyway yeah I just don't know what to download and such to even get started with working a private server.
I definitely want to find one for just the core-game or what ever, just don't know if it's 1.2 or before that.
One thing, I think I'm supposed to find something like "mangos".

I tried searching the forums, but couldn't find something....