Are we getting a server merge soon?

[Jin_Uzuki]

Seriusly.

Sylph has 609 active players right now, and about 50% of them are probably AFK judging by a quick stroll in town. And this is during JP peak hour, where the server tends to be more active.

"But Taru. You could always server transfer!"

Why should I? Why should I pay 18€ (which it's almost 2 months of subs, to add to the insult), lose all the friends I made on Sylph to start on a new server? SE is offering a service, and it's clear this service doesn't work. You can't play a MASSIVE MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE PLAYING GAME if the PLAYERS are missing.

There is no point to have so many damn servers at this point.

[Alhanelem]

There's no plans for a server merge so far. It could actually be problematic with everyone running around with 5 trusts now to have a substantially higher server population than we do now lol...

[Jin_Uzuki]

I don't see how.

The game used to have players everywhere. There were thousands of players everywhere. People used to fight for Sky spots. Valkrum was filled with exp parties.

And yet the game worked wonderfully.

"trusts" is a poop excuse, if it's one. Some servers are a literally deserts. The game doesn't have milions of players anymore.

[Cesil]

I agree with Jin, this game is in need of server merging again. I have almost no desire to play because how empty it is and do not plan to resub unless they are announcing a merge, or if my friend continues to pay my sub then whatever lol. Great game but its lacking players...

[Angemon]

There's no plans for a server merge so far. It could actually be problematic with everyone running around with 5 trusts now to have a substantially higher server population than we do now lol...

I disagree with your opinion :)

[Raydeus]

No thanks, I'm perfectly fine with the way things currently are.

HOWEVER I do think they should make a one-time free server move available to current players so they can pick a server they want to overcrowd and move all there instead.

[machini]

The faster people quit the game because of things like low server pop the faster they can shut it down.

[Jin_Uzuki]

No thanks, I'm perfectly fine with the way things currently are.

HOWEVER I do think they should make a one-time free server move available to current players so they can pick a server they want to overcrowd and move all there instead.

lol "overcrown"

How many players do you think this game still has?

[Alhanelem]

I disagree with your opinion :)
That's fine, but my memories of 5 FPS in city zones disagrees with yours.


The game used to have players everywhere. There were thousands of players everywhere.Masisive exaggeration. I'v enever seen thousands of players in a single area, even near the game's release. hundreds, yes. but not thousands of players "everywhere." one to two thousand spread across the entire server, yes- and that was enough to have miserable frame rates in any high traffic location. If we merge the servers to where the resulting ones have the same populations as the days of yore, AND you have half of them running around with parties of trusts, the servers might explode or your FPS will be horrible.


How many players do you think this game still has? If you reduced it to one server, it would definitely be overcrowded. Two would probably restore the populations of yesteryear per server.

[Angemon]

Some servers have 300 people on them at one time... I think three to one would be a better merge.

[Jin_Uzuki]

If you reduced it to one server, it would definitely be overcrowded. Two would probably restore the populations of yesteryear per server.

You really think people are advocating to dump all players into one giant server? wtf


AND you have half of them running around with parties of trusts, the servers might explode or your FPS will be horrible.

Again with trusts. You think people are constantly using trusts all the time? People don't summon trusts every time they enter into a zone, especially level 99 players. You are being pedantic.

[Castanica]

You should just pay for a server swap, you can complain and complain while being angry but they aren't going to do it because it gives out negative press that the games are doing poorly. You have to look at it like this, what's more important saving some money or being annoyed?

I'm not looking to make you annoyed by saying this, I'm just being a realist. They aren't going to do it, here or on their other games.

Oh and to the person saying FPS will be horrible because of the trusts, you can turn off trusts.

Arguments however are irrelevant because they won't do merges.

[Alhanelem]

You really think people are advocating to dump all players into one giant server? wtfNo, I don't think that. But believe it or not, it HAS been suggested.


Again with trusts. You think people are constantly using trusts all the time?Again with the trusts, yes. Because YES, people DO use them all the time. Maybe you need to put your glasses on or something? It's something most of us use on a regular basis.


They aren't going to do it, here or on their other games.Well it's not like they haven't done merges in the past... but I think they don't want the publicity that comes with it.

[Aisu]

I don't see how.

The game used to have players everywhere. There were thousands of players everywhere. People used to fight for Sky spots. Valkrum was filled with exp parties.

And yet the game worked wonderfully.

"trusts" is a poop excuse, if it's one. Some servers are a literally deserts. The game doesn't have milions of players anymore.

That was a different time, Sky LS's use to have to find a specific time that not many people where doing their own event and go once or twice a weeks for a couple hours.

After the last merge the server had 4-5k on prime time and that caused issues as is. People couldn't load into jeuno because it was so overcrowded, The population actually caused a lot of problems for the game. right now my server looks like 600-1100 depending on time of day. If there was going to be a merge i honestly could only see 2 servers merging. With the state of the game right now with many people soloing with trusts, Escha and reisinjima will both be overcrowded there are already issues that sometimes most the pop spots in reisinjima are taken due to small manning and soloers. Even the high battlefields i have tried going to them and can't enter because they are full. You add another server to it then it will cause a lot of back lash. The game isn't what it use to be years ago. Content scales much harder the more people you have with no extra reward so its actually better to bring as little as you need. (easier fights and less competition) other than the High tier battlefields which felt like the better system. Harder by option and more reward by difficulty and doesn't scale by number of people.

Anyway, that is the state of the game right now and got to stop thinking its back in 2008 or before that cause that isn't the game no more and with trusts and being able to solo and low man most fights we actually can't have huge server populations without there being a lot of backlash from doing so.

[Diavolo]

Masisive exaggeration. I'v enever seen thousands of players in a single area, even near the game's release. hundreds, yes. but not thousands of players "everywhere." one to two thousand spread across the entire server, yes- and that was enough to have miserable frame rates in any high traffic location. If we merge the servers to where the resulting ones have the same populations as the days of yore, AND you have half of them running around with parties of trusts, the servers might explode or your FPS will be horrible.

There would be over 8-9,000 accounts simultaneously online on Cerberus back during the Wings of the Goddess days and it's always been one of the servers with lower populations, so those of you sweating over the thought of having more than 500-600 active accounts online at any given time need to stop and think things through a bit. Yes, the game has changed to be more suitable to the lower numbers, but that in no way makes it incapable of hosting thousands of players simultaneously again. Asura isn't all that far off and people are still using it as the go-to world when transferring, which should tell you something: the higher population numbers are something that draws players in. No one should want to pay $13/month to play a massively multiplayer online RPG that plays more like a single player RPG.

As for the trusts, a server with a healthier population will have less of them running around just by virtue of parties being filled with actual players, and even then there's a handy little command you can use to make them disappear: /hidetrust on.

SE could merge the remaining 16 servers into 4 very easily without making a negative impact on our regular day to day life so long as they were mindful of the activity of NA, EU and JP players on each server. For example, you wouldn't merge 4 servers that were all NA-heavy together or you'd just wind up with a lopsided mess of 2-2.5K active accounts during peak hours and a really quiet overnight/morning period. Ideally they'd be merging servers together where the demographics compliment each other. We all get healthier populations back where it's easier to meet new people, form parties, buy/sell items, and SE gets the benefit of reduced server costs/maintenance in the process. It's win/win.

[detlef]

Not everybody wants server merges. I like having little or no competition for spawn points and XP spots. I like being able to do Salvage and Nyzul whenever I want to with no delays. I like being able to target Quetz before it dies. All the content is focused around 6-man PTs anyway.

Have people tried server hopping to Asura? I hear it's a lovely place.

[Shadowlina]

Many of the most active people on Small servers, like myself.
Like the low server population! It means it's easier to farm dyna (No Competition), No Alex Competition, no battlefield lock outs etc etc etc.

strictly speaking here, yeah few more people would be nice. But i personally wouldnt be able to stand the high population of Asura. I can barely stand sylph at peak times. Why would i want to add another 700+ people to that mix.

And bare in mind OP, your server pop is JP peak time. It's much quieter NA/EU Peak times. Besides i wouldn't care anyways, i'm in a position where i know everyone on the server.

[Diavolo]

Not everybody wants server merges. I like having little or no competition for spawn points and XP spots. I like being able to do Salvage and Nyzul whenever I want to with no delays. I like being able to target Quetz before it dies. All the content is focused around 6-man PTs anyway.

Have people tried server hopping to Asura? I hear it's a lovely place.

Sarcasm?

I like seeing players being able to XP or tackle 6 person content like Sinister Reign without needing hours to set it up. I like having a somewhat decent supply of Salvage/Dynamis/Adoulin currency available for sale on the server. I like seeing more than just myself at Azi/Naga/Quetz. All the content is focused around 6 person parties, but why leave it at that?

I look at it like this, those playing on the majority of underpopulated servers are more likely to call it quits than they are to spend $18 to move to Odin or Asura. I've seen more than my fair share of returning players lose interest quickly because of how difficult it was to find help for older content. Having to find new XP locations or team up with others trying to tackle the same NMs you are isn't a negative to me, it's a positive.

Expand your friends list, expand your horizons, see that there are still enough players logging in today in 2016 to make the game as interesting as it was back in 2003-2004, but see that it can't be done with 16 servers.

[detlef]

Sarcasm?

I like seeing players being able to XP or tackle 6 person content like Sinister Reign without needing hours to set it up. I like having a somewhat decent supply of Salvage/Dynamis/Adoulin currency available for sale on the server. I like seeing more than just myself at Azi/Naga/Quetz. All the content is focused around 6 person parties, but why leave it at that?

I look at it like this, those playing on the majority of underpopulated servers are more likely to call it quits than they are to spend $18 to move to Odin or Asura. I've seen more than my fair share of returning players lose interest quickly because of how difficult it was to find help for older content. Having to find new XP locations or team up with others trying to tackle the same NMs you are isn't a negative to me, it's a positive.

Expand your friends list, expand your horizons, see that there are still enough players logging in today in 2016 to make the game as interesting as it was back in 2003-2004, but see that it can't be done with 16 servers.No, I'm not being sarcastic. In many ways, you and I are vastly different people. You seem to enjoy shouts and pick-up groups, but that's not a point of emphasis for everybody.

When you mention not being able to find help with older content, I'm going to assume you're talking about older Adoulin content like Skirmish, Delve, and SR. I'm with you there, it sucks not being able to fill a group for those. I just think the solution is to transfer to a more populous server, not to merge all servers.

I believe there have been times when the transfer fee was cut in half so if SE permanently lowered the fee and designated a few high population servers, then maybe everybody would be happy.

[Jin_Uzuki]

f


Again with the trusts, yes. Because YES, people DO use them all the time. Maybe you need to put your glasses on or something? It's something most of us use on a regular basis.


People use trust when they need it.

"Oh, I walked into this level 50 zone with my level 99 chara. Better summon August and Apururu even though I'm zoning in 3 minutes for the lulz"

Anyway, "playable NPC" is a stupid motive. (if it's a reason, I seriously doubt SE even condier it)

And maybe people wouldn't use trusts so much if they could get a damn CP party going on more often. Apex spots are plentiful.



Anyway, that is the state of the game right now and got to stop thinking its back in 2008 or before that cause that isn't the game no more and with trusts and being able to solo and low man most fights we actually can't have huge server populations without there being a lot of backlash from doing so.

Yes, I'm sure people will be soooo mad they can now get a party for T1 or Hard Mode fights easily instead of shouting for hours hoping someone bored will jump in so.

Sooooo mad!

Does this game even have enough players for a "lot of backlash" anyway?




Have people tried server hopping to Asura? I hear it's a lovely place.

And now we got the MMORPG player who doesn't like MMORPG. I thought they were all on XIV or something.

Have you tried single player games? I hear they are lovely and there is no competition.



Many of the most active people on Small servers, like myself.
Like the low server population! It means it's easier to farm dyna (No Competition), No Alex Competition, no battlefield lock outs etc etc etc.

strictly speaking here, yeah few more people would be nice. But i personally wouldnt be able to stand the high population of Asura. I can barely stand sylph at peak times. Why would i want to add another 700+ people to that mix.

And bare in mind OP, your server pop is JP peak time. It's much quieter NA/EU Peak times. Besides i wouldn't care anyways, i'm in a position where i know everyone on the server.

First of all, "high population Asura" probably doesn't even have 1/3 of the player it used to have in 2007 or so, so much for high population.

Second, there were 600 player during Sylph peak time yesterday. 600 PLAYERS DURING PEAK TIME IN A MMORPG. Half of them were AFK in Adoulin and port Jeuno.

Even looking at the shouts today, there has been 1 shout for relevant content from in 5 hours.

I'm sorry, but if you cannot stand it, the problem it's on your end.

[detlef]

Wow you're really mad about this.

[Jin_Uzuki]

Wow you're really mad about this.

I'm more mad at people defending something so broken that it's killing the enjoyment of the game for many since the game is barely playable in its current status.

I thought FFXI players were the kind that love having people running around and were against the "instance everything" mentality that we got in recent years, but apparently I was wrong.

[Shadowlina]

First of all, "high population Asura" probably doesn't even have 1/3 of the player it used to have in 2007 or so, so much for high population.

Second, there were 600 player during Sylph peak time yesterday. 600 PLAYERS DURING PEAK TIME IN A MMORPG. Half of them were AFK in Adoulin and port Jeuno.

Even looking at the shouts today, there has been 1 shout for relevant content from in 5 hours.

I'm sorry, but if you cannot stand it, the problem it's on your end.

I'm pretty sure you have missed the joy of being on a low population server here.
Yes it's an MMO, but MMO's are also community driven. You will find that those on other forums as well as here, are on lower population servers.

I'd argue theres maybe 50 people max on our server who i know little to nothing about. I'm clearing End-game content, 18 man events etc etc. Not because i "Have linkshell". But simply because i'm in the position where, i'm not just mingling with one set of the community. I play with Europeans (Like myself.), Americans and Japanese players, around the clock.

The Smaller servers, like ours. Is Community Driven. Not Yell driven like Asura, where you can yell and get a full party in minutes and go.
Plus with content how it is, you need people who you know and communicate. (Do you're research on the Aeonic NMs in Reisen, and you will see how communication driven they are, and this is coming from someone who has an Aeonic.)

There is a huge difference in gameplay from Sylph from a high population server like Asura. And i'm very sure SE is fully aware of this, and this is what is causing the Issue.
Do they merge, and shatter the community that servers like Sylph have.
Or do they leave it, until those small communities. (Or in sylphs case where the community is freakin' Huge, yet somehow people manage to avoid)

Take it how you will. But Sylph is Community driven, not Population/yell driven like something i know you want. (Yes i have seen your yells.)

[detlef]

I'm more mad at people defending something so broken that it's killing the enjoyment of the game for many since the game is barely playable in its current status.

I thought FFXI players were the kind that love having people running around and were against the "instance everything" mentality that we got in recent years, but apparently I was wrong.You can make good arguments without attacking people. That kind of thing will get the thread locked and then nobody wins.

Some people like a slower paced game without competition and congestion. And not just solo content but things like BCs, Escha spawn points, Apex camps, domain invasion. Isn't that also okay? I'm not against server merges, I just think that it's fine to maintain some lower population servers to balance a handful of high population ones. I also recognize that with Asura's popularity, maybe that situation is already a reality. I'm just wondering if the cost is the only barrier stopping people from hopping to a more populous server.

[Diavolo]

No, I'm not being sarcastic. In many ways, you and I are vastly different people. You seem to enjoy shouts and pick-up groups, but that's not a point of emphasis for everybody.

When you mention not being able to find help with older content, I'm going to assume you're talking about older Adoulin content like Skirmish, Delve, and SR. I'm with you there, it sucks not being able to fill a group for those. I just think the solution is to transfer to a more populous server, not to merge all servers.

I believe there have been times when the transfer fee was cut in half so if SE permanently lowered the fee and designated a few high population servers, then maybe everybody would be happy.

I asked if you were being sarcastic because Asura players, at least here on the official forums and at least one other, have been complaining about crowded XP camps and NM pop locations with the population reaching 1,600 at peak hours, yet you hear it's lovely just the same, so either the complainers were exaggerating or they've found ways to make it work.

I actually loathe shouts and pick up groups, but this isn't about me, it's about the health of the game. Larger, more diverse servers offer more options to both the players and the development team moving forward. It will undoubtedly annoy those of us who enjoy having the freedom to solo/lowman whatever we want, whenever we want, but let's not forget this is an MMORPG. We'll still be able to solo/lowman content, maybe just not as often or during the same hours, and if things do get to the point where areas are overcrowded I'm sure the development team would address those issues.

Yes, the transfer rate gets cut in half every so often, but is that really the solution, forcing the player base to spend money so they can join a server with a healthier population? Merging the servers is a win/win for both the players and SE and it's a fix they have implemented twice before, so I don't see why not now where it's in need more than ever. I imagine the players preferring the lower server populations to be in the vast minority here, but they seem to be a vocal majority on a forum such as this just because of the nature of it all (casual players often don't spend time posting on forums).

[detlef]

I asked if you were being sarcastic because Asura players, at least here on the official forums and at least one other, have been complaining about crowded XP camps and NM pop locations with the population reaching 1,600 at peak hours, yet you hear it's lovely just the same, so either the complainers were exaggerating or they've found ways to make it work.I was not aware of that. Almost everything I've read about the server's conditions has been positive.


I actually loathe shouts and pick up groups, but this isn't about me, it's about the health of the game. Larger, more diverse servers offer more options to both the players and the development team moving forward. It will undoubtedly annoy those of us who enjoy having the freedom to solo/lowman whatever we want, whenever we want, but let's not forget this is an MMORPG. We'll still be able to solo/lowman content, maybe just not as often or during the same hours, and if things do get to the point where areas are overcrowded I'm sure the development team would address those issues.Yeah, there's nothing much sadder than seeing somebody shout for something and not get any response. Is it really easier to adjust for overcrowding than undercrowding though? SE has definitely been pretty hit or miss on adjusting content for smaller groups but overcrowding seems like it would present issues that the dev team would be unable to address at all.


Yes, the transfer rate gets cut in half every so often, but is that really the solution, forcing the player base to spend money so they can join a server with a healthier population? Merging the servers is a win/win for both the players and SE and it's a fix they have implemented twice before, so I don't see why not now where it's in need more than ever. I imagine the players preferring the lower server populations to be in the vast minority here, but they seem to be a vocal majority on a forum such as this just because of the nature of it all (casual players often don't spend time posting on forums).Yeah I don't have a perfect solution there. Maybe if SE stated, okay Asura, Odin, and say... Bahamut are going to be our "high population" servers, here's a free one-time transfer. Would that solve things?

As for your other point, I agree that casual players probably don't post very much here if at all. But at the same time, people clamoring for server merges are among the most vocal of all. In general, I think people who are satisfied with the status quo would not be vocal unless prompted.

[Jin_Uzuki]

I'm pretty sure you have missed the joy of being on a low population server here.

The joy of being the only person in the zone...
The joy of silent town because no one is playing...
The joy of no currencies because no one is doing Salvage/Dyna...
The joy of no pop items for Escha because no one is doing the content required for it...
The joy of not being able to farm pop items for Escha because no one is doing that either :<
The joy of new players unable to stuff


Yes it's an MMO, but MMO's are also community driven. You will find that those on other forums as well as here, are on lower population servers.

I'd argue theres maybe 50 people max on our server who i know little to nothing about. I'm clearing End-game content, 18 man events etc etc. Not because i "Have linkshell". But simply because i'm in the position where, i'm not just mingling with one set of the community. I play with Europeans (Like myself.), Americans and Japanese players, around the clock.


You claim to know almost everyone on Sylph (which it's not hard, there are very few active players), and yet I know a lot of people who are frustrated on the situation and the ability to do anything.

Furthermore, I can assure you, have a lot of player ("a lot" lol, this game is not exactly overpopulated) is not going to destroy any community. I originally played on Ragnarok, which was a fairly popular server, and we had a lot of communities.



The Smaller servers, like ours. Is Community Driven. Not Yell driven like Asura, where you can yell and get a full party in minutes and go.

Yes, I'm sure Asura is full of jerks and there isn't a community

/s


Plus with content how it is, you need people who you know and communicate. (Do you're research on the Aeonic NMs in Reisen, and you will see how communication driven they are, and this is coming from someone who has an Aeonic.)

Pretty much all content but the harder T2-3 in Reisenjima can be done in Yell these days. I know, I've done a lot of Escha Zi'tah/Sky and some T1 in Reisen. Furthermore, there is more content than just Escha. Hard Mode fights for example, Unity fights, or even simply CP parties.


Take it how you will. But Sylph is Community driven, not Population/yell driven like something i know you want. (Yes i have seen your yells.)

You know, did you even wonder if the reason you see so little shouts it's because there are barely any players online and not because "it's Community Driven" (lol, what does it mean. Communities will form regardless of the server size)

It sounds like to me, you have a LS that does stuff regularly. Which it's good! But I assure you, the LS is not going to explode and disintegrate as soon you get more players.



You can make good arguments without attacking people. That kind of thing will get the thread locked and then nobody wins.

Some people like a slower paced game without competition and congestion. And not just solo content but things like BCs, Escha spawn points, Apex camps, domain invasion. Isn't that also okay? I'm not against server merges, I just think that it's fine to maintain some lower population servers to balance a handful of high population ones. I also recognize that with Asura's popularity, maybe that situation is already a reality. I'm just wondering if the cost is the only barrier stopping people from hopping to a more populous server.

Sylph population is not low. Sylph population is abyssal. 600 players online in a MMORPG is a joke, especially when you count how many of them are AFK.

"High" and "low" population at this point of the game mean little. Even an "high" population server has a rather low population compared to years ago.

[Shadowlina]

I don't have a LS. I run with 3 different groups, who are all mish mash people from different linkshells, time zones, and even people who don't speak English.
The fact of the mater is, is sylph is a server where everyone knows everyone.
I'm not in the biggest Linkshells on the server, yet I'm so frequently asked for the bases of which they do their content on.

Linkshells sadly DO explode on server merges. I was on Sylph on the Sylph fairy merge. All the Fairy Linkshells got destroyed on the merge, sylph at the time, was a small server, largely consisting of solo players, with the few end-game players. Yet even then most people knew eachother, and this was back when server populations where standing at 1k plus.

Also did you know sylph has a large korean/Arabic community? Yeah, thats a thing. Server merge would destroy that. And very little safety they find on our server. (Because they do go around as a group)
I don't think you understand the true genuine scale of everyone knows everyone. Even 2 years ago, back when shouts where more prominent, there was a atmostphere of "Do you know this guy? Is he any good", this was back when AA HTBs where the hardest content in the game.

Server merging small servers like sylph 100% will destroy the stability many players like me have, i know so SO many people who would be forced to get into linkshells to start doing content again, simply because of a server merge.

[Jin_Uzuki]

I don't have a LS. I run with 3 different groups, who are all mish mash people from different linkshells, time zones, and even people who don't speak English.
The fact of the mater is, is sylph is a server where everyone knows everyone.
I'm not in the biggest Linkshells on the server, yet I'm so frequently asked for the bases of which they do their content on.

You know, "a group of people that does thing together and know each" it's basically what a LS is, uh.



Linkshells sadly DO explode on server merges. I was on Sylph on the Sylph fairy merge. All the Fairy Linkshells got destroyed on the merge, sylph at the time, was a small server, largely consisting of solo players, with the few end-game players. Yet even then most people knew eachother, and this was back when server populations where standing at 1k plus.

Well, I take it back. Though I'm not sure why adding some 1000 players to the game would make all the LS suddenly die.


Also did you know sylph has a large korean/Arabic community? Yeah, thats a thing. Server merge would destroy that. And very little safety they find on our server. (Because they do go around as a group)

... why would adding, say, 1000 players to a server destroy anything?

Also, using "large" on a server with 600 ppl online during peak hour... hum.


I don't think you understand the true genuine scale of everyone knows everyone. Even 2 years ago, back when shouts where more prominent, there was a atmostphere of "Do you know this guy? Is he any good", this was back when AA HTBs where the hardest content in the game.

Heck, now that I think about it, during RoV "Return Campaign" Sylph managed to over 1,200 players during peak hours. Basically double of what we have now.

Uhuh...


Server merging small servers like sylph 100% will destroy the stability many players like me have, i know so SO many people who would be forced to get into linkshells to start doing content again, simply because of a server merge.

... and that's a problem why? You can even have 2 LS now. Aren't you doing it already? Banding with the same 3 groups over and over to do content?

Are you sure you wouldn't rather just play on a private server or something?

[Shadowlina]

I totally think your miss understanding the idea that i could take of all of my linkshells, throw them on the floor. And i'd still be farming my second Aeonic weapon.
Linkshells have no party of this.

I don't think your understanding that these communities of Arabic and Korean players are here because other servers have basically banished them here.

You've totally missed the point of what i'm saying.

[Jin_Uzuki]

I totally think your miss understanding the idea that i could take of all of my linkshells, throw them on the floor. And i'd still be farming my second Aeonic weapon.
Linkshells have no party of this.


Are you farming them with the same people over and over?

Do you also think these people are all of Sylph players?



I don't think your understanding that these communities of Arabic and Korean players are here because other servers have basically banished them here.

The did... what? how?

What the heck are you trying to say?


You've totally missed the point of what i'm saying.

Yes, I don't get people who want to play MMORPG with 100 people. Sue me!

[Angemon]

Just because your little Sylph server does it, doesn't mean the all do. Heck, you are probably the exception and not everyone on your server has the opportunity to do what you're doing. The fact is, small server numbers discourage people from playing. They like to log in and see that a game is still relevant by a lot of people playing it. People like to have choices in groups they can join (in your example if one person angered a member of one of those groups they could be blacklisted from all server events.)

[Aisu]

You know, "a group of people that does thing together and know each" it's basically what a LS is, uh.

No! That is what is known as a community. A linkshell is a communication system and nothing more. You can have 2 people in a ls or be alone in a ls or have 30+ people in a LS. Doesn't mean you need one to do stuff in the game which Shadowlina was trying to explain to you. I can have 0 Linkshells equipped like Shadowlina said and still get invited by friend/people i know to go off and do events and NM's.

Now don't get me wrong my favourite time of this game was probably abyssea/Voidwatch era. Everyone got loot/kill (although it was random) and most jobs had a good role in that time for proccing/healing/Damage/buffing/solo farming. You got to meet a lot of different people with the shouts but what you don't seem to understand is that this is not the game anymore. The content is based on smaller groups doing them not larger ones. Most NM's now scale to the point it is a disadvantage to bring more people. It gets harder and you get no extra loot for doing so meaning more people lotting against you. So a lot of people will low man NM's i go to reisinjima #9 and see people soloing NM's so i have had to check multiple spots to find them taken as well by low man groups. I have had to wait outside of High tier battlefields because they were full.

You just don't seem to understand that the way the game is getting too many people on the server when there is already a slight competition for NM pop spots will only get worst the more people you have.

The worst part is i have seen people shout and some people get criticized and made fun of for shouting and making groups cause they might not be perfect groups so people don't want to shout they rather just stick to their friends because people that want shout groups like there use to be like to make fun of those that do at least try which is the most disappointing thing i have seen in this game and then wonder why no one wants to shout.

[Olor]

I asked if you were being sarcastic because Asura players, at least here on the official forums and at least one other, have been complaining about crowded XP camps and NM pop locations with the population reaching 1,600 at peak hours, yet you hear it's lovely just the same, so either the complainers were exaggerating or they've found ways to make it work.


um... what? I haven't seen congestion at all for at least a year on Asura, longer, really.

The server is not *that* populated, it's just less unpopulated. And really, if folks want a higher population server they should transfer to Asura.

I am not necessarily against merges but I worry that folks will get upset about it and leave if they are forced to merge. A free server transfer event, or the option to free transfer 1 time to a designated "high population server" would probably be better for allowing folks to maintain their communities and allow others to get into a more populated server.

[Castanica]

Yes, I don't get people who want to play MMORPG with 100 people. Sue me!

Pay for a server transfer, problem solved.

[Diavolo]

No! That is what is known as a community. A linkshell is a communication system and nothing more. You can have 2 people in a ls or be alone in a ls or have 30+ people in a LS. Doesn't mean you need one to do stuff in the game which Shadowlina was trying to explain to you. I can have 0 Linkshells equipped like Shadowlina said and still get invited by friend/people i know to go off and do events and NM's.

This is easier to do on larger servers where more people are available, both those who enjoy playing with their linkshells and those who enjoy playing without them. Server sizes have no bearing on the quality of a community. You can argue this point back and forth between yourselves, but I will say this, Final Fantasy XI has one of the best communities I've ever been a part of and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Friendships and acquaintances I made over a decade ago are still with me today.


Now don't get me wrong my favourite time of this game was probably abyssea/Voidwatch era. Everyone got loot/kill (although it was random) and most jobs had a good role in that time for proccing/healing/Damage/buffing/solo farming. You got to meet a lot of different people with the shouts but what you don't seem to understand is that this is not the game anymore. The content is based on smaller groups doing them not larger ones. Most NM's now scale to the point it is a disadvantage to bring more people. It gets harder and you get no extra loot for doing so meaning more people lotting against you. So a lot of people will low man NM's i go to reisinjima #9 and see people soloing NM's so i have had to check multiple spots to find them taken as well by low man groups. I have had to wait outside of High tier battlefields because they were full.

This irritates me and I fault the development team as much as I do the players. The HP scaling system in place does not discourage larger party sizes, it is your greed that does that as you already pointed out ("more people lotting against you"). There's enough evidence on forums to suggest NMs have been successfully defeated with 18 person alliances. If you're fighting an NM that requires one or two tanks and a healer regardless of the alliance size then adding a second or even third party that focuses entirely on dealing damage essentially makes the fight easier, not harder, provided, of course, everyone is playing their jobs well.


You just don't seem to understand that the way the game is getting too many people on the server when there is already a slight competition for NM pop spots will only get worst the more people you have.

Interest in Escha will slowly decrease over time, as with all things. Future additions of battle content will hopefully continue to spread players across various zones. Again, larger server sizes gives us all more options - we can choose to try our hand at something we've been ignoring or try to team up with whoever is doing the content you also want a shot at and SE can add a few more pop spots/battlefields. Let's not act like we're forced to deal with what we have in front of us because as you know, this game has been in a state of constant change since day 1.


The worst part is i have seen people shout and some people get criticized and made fun of for shouting and making groups cause they might not be perfect groups so people don't want to shout they rather just stick to their friends because people that want shout groups like there use to be like to make fun of those that do at least try which is the most disappointing thing i have seen in this game and then wonder why no one wants to shout.

I don't see how this is an issue in the argument for/against server merges as loudmouth fools are everywhere, but placing that situation on a larger server still gives you a better shot at accomplishing your goals, whereas on a lower population server you'll struggle to find help and be forced to deal with it.

[detlef]

This irritates me and I fault the development team as much as I do the players. The HP scaling system in place does not discourage larger party sizes, it is your greed that does that as you already pointed out ("more people lotting against you"). There's enough evidence on forums to suggest NMs have been successfully defeated with 18 person alliances. If you're fighting an NM that requires one or two tanks and a healer regardless of the alliance size then adding a second or even third party that focuses entirely on dealing damage essentially makes the fight easier, not harder, provided, of course, everyone is playing their jobs well.I don't have much to argue with your other points but I disagree with you about HP scaling. It absolutely does hurt larger groups beyond just lotting. Are you really getting the bang for your buck when you add more players? More people means fewer skillchains or fewer unresisted nukes. And that's assuming that players are pulling their weight, which gets iffier the larger your alliance gets.

[Diavolo]

um... what? I haven't seen congestion at all for at least a year on Asura, longer, really.

The server is not *that* populated, it's just less unpopulated. And really, if folks want a higher population server they should transfer to Asura.

That's been my impression, despite the statements claiming to the contrary. The last time server merges came up here, in the Quality of Life thread, Elexia suggested "CP camps are already kinda packed at times" about two months ago. Those arguing against the merge tend to worry about this happening even though Odin and Asura seem to be doing just fine on the high end of the spectrum.


I am not necessarily against merges but I worry that folks will get upset about it and leave if they are forced to merge. A free server transfer event, or the option to free transfer 1 time to a designated "high population server" would probably be better for allowing folks to maintain their communities and allow others to get into a more populated server.

The only downside with this idea is that it won't do much to help the game as a whole. I can almost guarantee a large portion of those wanting a healthier server would choose Asura without even thinking twice, then you risk that server becoming a giant mess while leaving those that were already with low populations worse off than before. The merge has to come from the development team and it has to be handled with care. Maintaining a fairly balanced population of both English-speaking and Japanese players is important, as the world is still turning while you're at work/school. It would come to a standstill for half the day if everyone on a server was from the same region.

[Aisu]

This irritates me and I fault the development team as much as I do the players. The HP scaling system in place does not discourage larger party sizes, it is your greed that does that as you already pointed out ("more people lotting against you"). There's enough evidence on forums to suggest NMs have been successfully defeated with 18 person alliances. If you're fighting an NM that requires one or two tanks and a healer regardless of the alliance size then adding a second or even third party that focuses entirely on dealing damage essentially makes the fight easier, not harder, provided, of course, everyone is playing their jobs well.

This isn't just greed talk it is fact you will have more competition with more people. Every person you add to the alliance has to pull their weight cause each person added does make it harder and if everyone isn't pulling their own weight no real reason to bring them cause they will just make it worst for everyone else. I have a community that does full 18 man escha events which i go to cause they are all a bunch of friends and i enjoy doing it with them. Not going to lie and say it was easier with 15-18 people even if we can still kill them. Majority of people don't though i have heard people say stuff like "i'm not takeing more than 3" just because of the scaleing.

High tier battlefields was a much better system you get to choose the difficulty and you are rewarded for your choice and the more people you bring doesn't affect anything but make it easier the more you bring which is the way it should be. It should not get harder the more you bring that was such a bad idea on their side.




Interest in Escha will slowly decrease over time, as with all things. Future additions of battle content will hopefully continue to spread players across various zones. Again, larger server sizes gives us all more options - we can choose to try our hand at something we've been ignoring or try to team up with whoever is doing the content you also want a shot at and SE can add a few more pop spots/battlefields. Let's not act like we're forced to deal with what we have in front of us because as you know, this game has been in a state of constant change since day 1.


interest will die down if people are done with stones which is something that will not die down anytime soon with the randomness of the augments unless something new and better comes out and then that will just get congested with people low manning that. Prime example is escha when it came out was hard to farm silt cause everyone wanted to and it was a pain. Now resinjima is the new thing and NM pop areas are already crowded at times. I have recently witnessed going to #9 finding all spots taken. then went to 5 it was taken went to 4 it was taken then got lucky i think it was at 3. Sometimes High tier battlefields are full i'm waiting to enter and they have been out for ages now.

I miss the shouts and the bigger community i've been playing 11 years so don't get me wrong but the fact remains the same with the decreasing population for years now SE has made content based on low manning and soloing. With the HP scaling and easier battlefields and trusts. The game is at the point now where a large community will actually make for a worst game experience unless SE changes.

[Zeargi]

Sylph has some of the nicest, and greatest people I've played with in a long time. I joined a LS, and often times I feel like a leech because I'm not up to par with some of the others there... but even still, despite that, they still help me. and there are times it's really quiet and I want to do something, but I know there are still things I can do even without other people to do it with. Salvage, Dynamis, and few other odds and ends are easy enough. Don't kill off Sylph just yet, she's still alive and breathing.

[Jin_Uzuki]

No! That is what is known as a community. A linkshell is a communication system and nothing more. You can have 2 people in a ls or be alone in a ls or have 30+ people in a LS. Doesn't mean you need one to do stuff in the game which Shadowlina was trying to explain to you. I can have 0 Linkshells equipped like Shadowlina said and still get invited by friend/people i know to go off and do events and NM's.


... which you can do on more populated server too, you know? As I said, I had a character on Ragnarok, which was fairly populated at time. I'm still in touch with some of these friends today.



Now don't get me wrong my favourite time of this game was probably abyssea/Voidwatch era. Everyone got loot/kill (although it was random) and most jobs had a good role in that time for proccing/healing/Damage/buffing/solo farming. You got to meet a lot of different people with the shouts but what you don't seem to understand is that this is not the game anymore. The content is based on smaller groups doing them not larger ones. Most NM's now scale to the point it is a disadvantage to bring more people. It gets harder and you get no extra loot for doing so meaning more people lotting against you. So a lot of people will low man NM's i go to reisinjima #9 and see people soloing NM's so i have had to check multiple spots to find them taken as well by low man groups. I have had to wait outside of High tier battlefields because they were full.

You just don't seem to understand that the way the game is getting too many people on the server when there is already a slight competition for NM pop spots will only get worst the more people you have.

The worst part is i have seen people shout and some people get criticized and made fun of for shouting and making groups cause they might not be perfect groups so people don't want to shout they rather just stick to their friends because people that want shout groups like there use to be like to make fun of those that do at least try which is the most disappointing thing i have seen in this game and then wonder why no one wants to shout.

You don't seem to understand this game *can't have* many people playing because there aren't.
Why are people thinking merging a couple of the most dead servers will suddenly bring the game to 2007 population?


Pay for a server transfer, problem solved.

I already explained the reasons in the OP, but I will repeat it

1) Server transfer are expensive. Why should I pay 18€ when it's clear it's SE is offering a service that doesn't work
2) I lose all the people I've know on Sylph to move on a Server I know nothing off

[Jin_Uzuki]

Sylph has some of the nicest, and greatest people I've played with in a long time. I joined a LS, and often times I feel like a leech because I'm not up to par with some of the others there... but even still, despite that, they still help me. and there are times it's really quiet and I want to do something, but I know there are still things I can do even without other people to do it with. Salvage, Dynamis, and few other odds and ends are easy enough. Don't kill off Sylph just yet, she's still alive and breathing.

I missed this.
Are you saying you wouldn't be able to play with your friends if they added more players to the game? Is there a threshold? Like, 1000 players are ok, but 2000 aren't?

What about 1200? We had 1200 players during the Return Home to Vana'diel Campaign on Sylph. Are 1200 players ok or we can't go over 600?

Please need to understand that Sylph and many servers population is not low. It's abyssal. 600 players online are not and shouldn't be acceptable. Even Asura from what I'm gathering has *only* about 1600 people online during peak hours. That's low compared to any FFXI server during it's prime time.

[Castanica]

I already explained the reasons in the OP, but I will repeat it

1) Server transfer are expensive. Why should I pay 18€ when it's clear it's SE is offering a service that doesn't work
2) I lose all the people I've know on Sylph to move on a Server I know nothing off

Thing is people have been asking for merges for 4-5 years now, they don't want to do them. They refuse to do merges here or on xiv, they aren't going to happen so at a point you have to be a realist.

You need to keep in mind that doing a server merge is fairly expensive and you are asking at a point when the game has a lower budget than ever before.

[Zeargi]

I missed this.
Are you saying you wouldn't be able to play with your friends if they added more players to the game? Is there a threshold? Like, 1000 players are ok, but 2000 aren't?

What about 1200? We had 1200 players during the Return Home to Vana'diel Campaign on Sylph. Are 1200 players ok or we can't go over 600?

Please need to understand that Sylph and many servers population is not low. It's abyssal. 600 players online are not and shouldn't be acceptable. Even Asura from what I'm gathering has *only* about 1600 people online during peak hours. That's low compared to any FFXI server during it's prime time.

I'm simple saying that it is possible to still get things done on Sylph. Would it be nice to have more people every now and then, yes. But the other thing is WHEN are you checking the population numbers? Because if you aren't checking it at the Prime time when JP players are playing, then you don't have a true grasp of the population.

[Sirmarki]

I don't see how.

The game used to have players everywhere. There were thousands of players everywhere. People used to fight for Sky spots. Valkrum was filled with exp parties.

And yet the game worked wonderfully.


Yes, but... Now the game is a one level game, so all people will be in the same three areas. Not thousands of people spread over lower-higher level, varying zones. So I think mergers would be a bad idea, at this stage anyway.

[Shadowlina]

I'd like to point out that SE has said on the november update that there discussion for World Merges are open.
They have never not commented on it. They did comment on it, On November, and said that they would be open for discussion on the mater if it was brought up.

[detlef]

I don't see how.

The game used to have players everywhere. There were thousands of players everywhere. People used to fight for Sky spots. Valkrum was filled with exp parties.

And yet the game worked wonderfully.

"trusts" is a poop excuse, if it's one. Some servers are a literally deserts. The game doesn't have milions of players anymore.I have to point out how different things are now.

Back then a single ??? in Sky could occupy 18+ players. Not only that, you were limited in what you could do by the triggers you farmed (outside of Reisenjima T2s, they've really gone easy on us). In fact, lockouts were kinda the thing back then with Dynamis and Einherjar having 72 hours cooldowns. And that was necessary to prevent overcrowding.

A single Salvage instance took 6-8 players, not 1 like today. You had a full alliance for ZNMs, which took a lot of work to farm pops for T3 and above. Sea didn't even drop triggers 100% at first. Voidwatch was a full alliance instead of a single player with mules. Did you have fond memories of the bird camp? The conditions back then weren't that rosy.

Basically, I'm skeptical that more players will make everything better. Especially since you can pop so many things solo now (VW, Escha, High Tier BCs). And this is after seeing 265 players on Valefor last night when I was playing. Hey, I'd like to have more people to play with but straight up doubling the population is a pretty risky step.

[Raydeus]

I agree with Detlef, and in my opinion it's more about increasing the quality of interactions between players rather than increasing the population that will make the real difference in the game moving forward.

[Aisu]

You don't seem to understand this game *can't have* many people playing because there aren't.
Why are people thinking merging a couple of the most dead servers will suddenly bring the game to 2007 population?


Please read carefully this time.

The thing is i never said anything about merging servers is going to make the population anywhere close to the population of 2007? I said there can already be congestion for specific things you want to do in game at certain times of the day. I have gone to reisinjima and have to look around for a pop spot because most where taken by solo players or people low manning it with trusts. I have gone to a high tier battle field to be locked out because too many people are already inside soloing or low manning it with trusts again. Merging with another server will make this worst which you don't seem to understand or want to understand.

What i am saying is how the game content is currently being designed and limitations on the game itself merging servers might cause more problems for people than you think. You are just one track minded on this because you miss the game how it use to be. I miss it too but that is not the game now. The game doesn't have lockouts like they use to back in those days. back in those days you had to make specific times when no one else was going and then try to get people to go at that specific time. I use to run a sky LS and i remember having to look for a good time that no events where taking up that time.

You really need to stop thinking the game is the same as it was. SE is specifically developing content for low manning. That is the game now and many realize this and not because they like the way the game is cause i'm not particularly happy with its state and wish it had a bigger community ect but it's clear and obvious to most why this is a bad idea.

[Diavolo]

A common theme I am seeing from those against server merges is the fear of overcrowding in popular areas such as Reisenjima and hard mode merit fights, which to me suggests you believe the development team would combine multiple servers together and leave it at that. Of course, if that were to happen we might have to deal with some slight overcrowding issues (again, Asura's doing fine with over 1,000 simultaneous users as mentioned in this thread), but it's not difficult for them to toss in a few extra NM pop locations, add an extra XP camp or two and make other minor "quality of life" adjustments as they've been doing for years now. Would your opinion of server merges remain the same if steps such as those were taken?

I view the crowded boulder/beitetsu/pluton dropping "hard mode" fights in a different light than some in this thread, I suppose. It seems the players on most servers find one or two fights they can clear quickly/efficiently and rarely stray from them. That's not an overcrowding issue, that's just players being too lazy to try something different. Is this really a pro or a con of larger server sizes? To me it's a benefit, potentially giving players who would usually gravitate toward a fight they're comfortable with that little push they need to try something new and maybe even have a fun time doing it. We're all role playing adventurers, afterall, let's try to show a little of that adventuring spirit every once in a while.

[Castanica]

FFXI has no instanced content, when you enter a salvage area you are taking up one of the 3 copies of each zone that exist side by side for that content. If you have 3 people who are hardcore and spamming salvage over and over you have a serious problem that locks others out, same goes for anything in this game. It's not made for large populations anymore and when the game did have large populations content was restricted to alliances / parties and had strict limits on how often you could enter. If you had a server with 2-3k people the game would be unplayable today, they would have to go back on all the RoV key items.

These long winded conversations are irrelevant anyway, they aren't going to do it. People have been on about this for years and the reality is that it just costs way too much money to do a merge and it upsets so many people.

[Diavolo]

FFXI has no instanced content, when you enter a salvage area you are taking up one of the 3 copies of each zone that exist side by side for that content. If you have 3 people who are hardcore and spamming salvage over and over you have a serious problem that locks others out, same goes for anything in this game. It's not made for large populations anymore and when the game did have large populations content was restricted to alliances / parties and had strict limits on how often you could enter. If you had a server with 2-3k people the game would be unplayable today, they would have to go back on all the RoV key items.

You're taking the idea of server merges to an extreme. As an example, Asura is NA/EU heavy, merge it with 2-3 JP-heavy servers with low populations and you suddenly have a server that's alive 24/7 without ever nearing your 3K simultaneous users mark. Let's not be silly and look at this idea of merges as some sort of "end of times" ordeal. Players expressed concern about it the last time it happened and everything worked out just fine.


These long winded conversations are irrelevant anyway, they aren't going to do it. People have been on about this for years and the reality is that it just costs way too much money to do a merge and it upsets so many people.Now you're reaching. How much do you think it will cost them to consolidate servers? It took them a few hours to complete the task back when the population was over 15-20 times the size it is now. As for upsetting "so many people," we're talking about a tiny fraction of the community that will continue to play on despite their opinion on the matter.

The attitude you have is one that will never bring about change, whether in game or out in the real world. Telling yourself something can't be done is a self-fulfilling prophecy.We can criticize the FFXI development team all day long, but you can't ignore the fact that they have made tremendous changes to the game over the last few years - it's an almost night and day difference from the FFXI we played a decade ago - and I'm confident that they can continue making changes to cater to the remaining players, regardless of whether or not they decide to merge the servers.

[Castanica]

You're taking the idea of server merges to an extreme. As an example, Asura is NA/EU heavy, merge it with 2-3 JP-heavy servers with low populations and you suddenly have a server that's alive 24/7 without ever nearing your 3K simultaneous users mark. Let's not be silly and look at this idea of merges as some sort of "end of times" ordeal. Players expressed concern about it the last time it happened and everything worked out just fine.

Now you're reaching. How much do you think it will cost them to consolidate servers? It took them a few hours to complete the task back when the population was over 15-20 times the size it is now. As for upsetting "so many people," we're talking about a tiny fraction of the community that will continue to play on despite their opinion on the matter.

The attitude you have is one that will never bring about change, whether in game or out in the real world. Telling yourself something can't be done is a self-fulfilling prophecy.We can criticize the FFXI development team all day long, but you can't ignore the fact that they have made tremendous changes to the game over the last few years - it's an almost night and day difference from the FFXI we played a decade ago - and I'm confident that they can continue making changes to cater to the remaining players, regardless of whether or not they decide to merge the servers.

What is the point of a server that is alive 24/7? Japanese players don't want to play with EU/NA anyway and vice versa, do you just want it because or for an actual reason?

Also just because it took a short amount of time to actually do the merge does not mean it didn't take months of expensive preparations.

[Diavolo]

What is the point of a server that is alive 24/7? Japanese players don't want to play with EU/NA anyway and vice versa, do you just want it because or for an actual reason?

I apologize for the way this may sound, but are you being serious?

One of Final Fantasy XI's strengths is that it brings players from across the world together. I've been interacting with players from other countries my very first day in Vana'diel and I wouldn't have it any other way. If you start dividing the servers by region not only are you making the game world a less interesting place, but you're also slowing down its economy and its progress.

[Aisu]

Few things:
I miss the huge communities so don't get me wrong
Having NA/EU/JP all on one server makes an active 24/7 server even if JP don't want to play with NA/EU that is still more people to buy and sell items on AH. So weather they like us or not it is still beneficial
Last time they merged servers there were tons of issues with congestion and it took SE months and months to try to resolve issues. (instances being full and battling over them, area lag due to overcrowding)

Now it might feel different cause last time they merged servers to get about 4k players on but back then every player wasn't able to summon 5 trusts/player and solo everything. There were time restrictions like dyna/salvage/einherjar/sea had day waits and still people found times where it was still over populated. Now that there are no time waits and NM's are just pop NM's with Items that you can buy with sparks and solo or low man with trusts there is going to be problems with roughly 1000-2000 players active on a server cause escha/resisnjima/high tier battlefields are really the only places to be other than those that still like to farm dyna/salvage for relic/mythics. Some of which at certain times of the day are already congested as is to the point i have had to wait to go into certain battlefields or look around multiple places for NM pops.

Now i don't think it will be too bad if some of the smaller servers gets merged with 1 other small server but i personally feel that any more than that would be far too much. As i keep trying to explain with the population decrease SE made trusts so people could solo/low man stuff. That is the purpose of trusts they knew the game was losing a lot of players and they came up with the ability to change difficulty on battlefields and HP scaling so people can still complete these without the need of many players.
That is how the game is now and too many people don't realise this and want the game back to as it was years ago. Well not going to happen and never will and people need to get over it and realise this is a different game and SE are designing content for how it is now low populated and casual content.

[Castanica]

I apologize for the way this may sound, but are you being serious?

One of Final Fantasy XI's strengths is that it brings players from across the world together. I've been interacting with players from other countries my very first day in Vana'diel and I wouldn't have it any other way. If you start dividing the servers by region not only are you making the game world a less interesting place, but you're also slowing down its economy and its progress.

So just because, gotcha.

A lot of XI players moved to XIV and love the separation (on both sides), one of the biggest complaints of this game was how racist JP players are (even though they just didn't want to play with people they can't speak to). I understand it's a big deal to you personally but that's not true for most people, Asura has almost no JP players and nobody complains there are no people they can't understand on it.

This whole worldwide server idea is just nonsense in reality (it was done to save money because the game has no regional server centers), they can't understand you, they won't play with you and it just packs the server with people that might as well be afk/npc. On my old server everytime a JP shouted, someone would say they were racist for not shouting with auto translate. The JP playerbase in particular prefer to be separated.

Asura is a unoffical English speaking server now, that's how people like it. If you want a multicultural server with lots of people online when you're in bed then move to one that is like that and don't ruin one that is fine how it is just because that's how you want it to be.

Also this isn't about restricting anything, the players themselves have moved themselves towards doing it by choice so dont' say it's not what people want. Jp and English speaking players alike have been paying to move to the unofficial JP and English speaking servers.

Asura used to have a large JP playerbase, most of them moved to Odin to have a better community they can actually play with, most english speaking players move to Asura for the same reason.

[Aisu]

So just because, gotcha.

A lot of XI players moved to XIV and love the separation (on both sides), one of the biggest complaints of this game was how racist JP players are (even though they just didn't want to play with people they can't speak to). I understand it's a big deal to you personally but that's not true for most people, Asura has almost no JP players and nobody complains there are no people they can't understand on it.

This whole worldwide server idea is just nonsense in reality (it was done to save money because the game has no regional server centers), they can't understand you, they won't play with you and it just packs the server with people that might as well be afk/npc. On my old server everytime a JP shouted, someone would say they were racist for not shouting with auto translate. The JP playerbase in particular prefer to be separated.

Asura is a unoffical English speaking server now, that's how people like it. If you want a multicultural server with lots of people online when you're in bed then move to one that is like that and don't ruin one that is fine how it is just because that's how you want it to be.

Also this isn't about restricting anything, the players themselves have moved themselves towards doing it by choice so dont' say it's not what people want. Jp and English speaking players alike have been paying to move to the unofficial JP and English speaking servers.

Asura used to have a large JP playerbase, most of them moved to Odin to have a better community they can actually play with, most english speaking players move to Asura for the same reason.

As i stated in the post above this, there is no downside to having JP/NA/EU players all on the same server. On this server it is actually beneficial because very few NA/EU players want to do domain invasions even though there are plenty of them on so i have to wait until the JP's are on to make it happen. Another thing is that they can be racist all they want they can ask for JP players only if they want that is their choice. Honestly what is the difference if they were there or not? you not going to go to whatever they shouted either way cause they either don't want you to or they won't be there to even shout so either way that makes no difference. (at least you have more of a chance to go if you find a nice JP shouting which i have met some really nice JP's and have done plenty of events over the year due to JP's). Another benefit and the big one is the supply and demand, The more players that play NA/EU or JP will provide a better economy more players to farm/craft/buy things. They don't play at the same time so you are only likely to really see JP prime time for a good few hours.

There is no real downside honestly because you increase the population for some benefits while also making it so the prime times for each nation don't increase much more because of the timezone difference. Instead of saying your argument is because they are racist and people like it better that way, Think of some actual facts as to why exactly a server would benefit the seperation of NA/EU and JP.

The only reason why FFXIV seperate servers are better for the players is because of the server connection for people since the NA server is based in NA, EU server is based in EU and JP server is based in JP. It has nothing to do with racism or anything of that sort and In FFXI all servers are in JP that is the big difference.

Also most people move to asura for the bigger community doesn't make it "better". A good community is ones own opinion. On Shiva i have a better community of friends than i would find on asura i do events with them and we help each other out and i enjoy talking to them and i get stuff i want done with no issues. Having NA/EU/JP on one server has no downside some people just wanted a larger community and that is all and has nothing to do with what is better or not.

[Diavolo]

So just because, gotcha.

A lot of XI players moved to XIV and love the separation (on both sides), one of the biggest complaints of this game was how racist JP players are (even though they just didn't want to play with people they can't speak to). I understand it's a big deal to you personally but that's not true for most people, Asura has almost no JP players and nobody complains there are no people they can't understand on it.

This whole worldwide server idea is just nonsense in reality (it was done to save money because the game has no regional server centers), they can't understand you, they won't play with you and it just packs the server with people that might as well be afk/npc. On my old server everytime a JP shouted, someone would say they were racist for not shouting with auto translate. The JP playerbase in particular prefer to be separated.

Asura is a unoffical English speaking server now, that's how people like it. If you want a multicultural server with lots of people online when you're in bed then move to one that is like that and don't ruin one that is fine how it is just because that's how you want it to be.

Also this isn't about restricting anything, the players themselves have moved themselves towards doing it by choice so dont' say it's not what people want. Jp and English speaking players alike have been paying to move to the unofficial JP and English speaking servers.

Asura used to have a large JP playerbase, most of them moved to Odin to have a better community they can actually play with, most english speaking players move to Asura for the same reason.

There is little that can be said about that post without it sounding insulting.

The large scale migrations to Asura have left their footprint on FFXI's forums, it doesn't take much digging around to find posts complaining about the lack of activity on most of the remaining servers. Likewise, if such a migration is happening on the Japanese side it wouldn't surprise me if it was clearly evident on forums as well. However, let's be clear here: these migrations aren't happening because players want to escape entire segments of the population, be it Japanese, American, German or what have you - they're happening because players want to go to a server that has an active population, that is alive, and right now if you're an English speaking player your best bet is Asura. It's no more complicated than that. Not everyone is as xenophobic as you appear to be, thankfully.

In a perfect world every Final Fantasy XI subscriber would be playing on one server capable of hosting an infinite amount of instanced battlefields with an incredibly active virtual economy. The software/hardware for making that sort of game a reality likely won't be available for at least a few more years, but there is no reason whatsoever why servers today are only hosting as few as 200 to 400 simultaneous accounts at any hour of the day, many of which are idle bazaars and/or people playing multiple accounts. The situation can be improved for everyone with minimal effort without us all having to pay SE $18 to do it. If they're worried about losing profits from server transfer fees they should just do what every other game developer on the planet is doing and offer unique items for sale. Now that we've got mounts, they can start with a FFXI version of this bad boy:

http://images.17173.com/2014/ff14//2014/08/13/20140813152432185.jpg

[dmuller30]

I moved to Odin because this server didn't have enough people on it. I think server merge would be great despite any publicity because in the end it should be about the community sadly it isn't in SE's eyes. So the few are left to suffer the 18 dollar transfer fee if they want a change. Maybe the mobile release will bring in more people and help bring back some life to these low populated servers? Maybe some of these problems can be fixed now that the limitations of the ps2 are gone? I remember playing around CoP days to log on to having 3-6k people on even if you add the amount of trusts being used on these servers I don't think you would really reach those numbers, not everyone has trusts out full time. Maybe just merge the servers that have 300 something players on them and not merge the big guys like Odin / Asura. The only people that seem to play this game are hardcore FF fans, which right now makes up most of their FFXI server base. As far as all the other things like Salvage or high tier battles couldn't they just up the amount of available slots? FFXIV there are so many parties that can enter the same instance and that is pulled from every server so it isn't impossible.

[Castanica]

There is little that can be said about that post without it sounding insulting.

The large scale migrations to Asura have left their footprint on FFXI's forums, it doesn't take much digging around to find posts complaining about the lack of activity on most of the remaining servers. Likewise, if such a migration is happening on the Japanese side it wouldn't surprise me if it was clearly evident on forums as well. However, let's be clear here: these migrations aren't happening because players want to escape entire segments of the population, be it Japanese, American, German or what have you - they're happening because players want to go to a server that has an active population, that is alive, and right now if you're an English speaking player your best bet is Asura. It's no more complicated than that. Not everyone is as xenophobic as you appear to be, thankfully.

In a perfect world every Final Fantasy XI subscriber would be playing on one server capable of hosting an infinite amount of instanced battlefields with an incredibly active virtual economy. The software/hardware for making that sort of game a reality likely won't be available for at least a few more years, but there is no reason whatsoever why servers today are only hosting as few as 200 to 400 simultaneous accounts at any hour of the day, many of which are idle bazaars and/or people playing multiple accounts. The situation can be improved for everyone with minimal effort without us all having to pay SE $18 to do it. If they're worried about losing profits from server transfer fees they should just do what every other game developer on the planet is doing and offer unique items for sale. Now that we've got mounts, they can start with a FFXI version of this bad boy:


You seem awfully worried about hurting my feelings, don't worry about it, you can't.

Players are moving by their own volition and planning to ODIN (the unofficial JP server, which was already a fairly large server) and Asura (the unofficial english server, which was already one of the larger servers), nobody is making them do this. By your logic everyone wants Asura and Odin to be merged for this utopian mixed server but that isn't the case because it offers no benefit and a lot of negatives. If people wanted what you are talking about the Japanese would not of completely moved off Asura and would of instead made Asura the unoffocial JP server would they not? There used to be a fairly large JP base on Asura, they moved enmasse to Odin and now there are almost none there at all, because very much like english players they made plans to make a regional popular server.

Again, you are pushing what you like and want onto everyone else. You aren't even on Asura. The auction house is fine, the playerbase is fine. There are no problems with Asura that would be fixed by adding 100% more players that want nothing to do with us and vice versa for them.

Merges are for the small servers, not the big servers that have formed the way the players who paid to move want them. If I simply wanted to be on a big server I and others on Asura could of moved to Odin, we didn't want a big server...we wanted a lot of people we can actually play and communicate with. You will have a hard enough time getting a merge of the small servers like syplh and shiva, let alone this crazy idea of a multi cultural mega server that would offer no benefits. Most people don't care about it, and we would have to go back to kick timers to make people logoff and all kinds of nonsense. It's a major headache to players and the company alike.

We don't need the big servers to be bigger, we need the smallest servers merged to make them comparable to the big ones (even this probably won't happen anyway).

[Diavolo]

Players are moving by their own volition and planning to ODIN (the unofficial JP server, which was already a fairly large server) and Asura (the unofficial english server, which was already one of the larger servers), nobody is making them do this.

Again, you're ignoring the reasons for the transfers. The fact they exist underscores the need for server merges, waiting for each player to move of their own volition at this point in its life is a poor way of managing such a successful game.


By your logic everyone wants Asura and Odin to be merged for this utopian mixed serverThat's not true at all. Suggesting servers with mixed regional players is a utopian idea is asinine, too. They existed during this game's best years and they exist today. Your xenophobia is showing again.


but that isn't the case because it offers no benefit and a lot of negatives.That's a rather insular opinion. Having a worldwide player base available on each server provides a number of benefits, some of which can make life in game more enjoyable. It was the very foundation the game was built on. Watch this promotional video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZKWzt1Gi_8) for the game. Note the line "Experience a living, breathing, persistent world that exists 24/7 whether you're in it or not." What do you think happens to the game if we were to have region-specific servers? Think you would be able to find other players to help you with a particular battle if you happened to login on a sick day from work/school? Think the AH and bazaars would stock themselves if everyone was playing the same few hours a night after work/school? No, of course not, you would login and the server would look like a ghost town. Whether you choose to interact with players from other countries or not is your own personal decision, but having them on your server helps you and everyone else there even if you can't see it. Don't take away the choice to play with European, Australian or Japanese players just because you're uncomfortable with it.


If people wanted what you are talking about the Japanese would not of completely moved off Asura and would of instead made Asura the unoffocial JP server would they not? There used to be a fairly large JP base on Asura, they moved enmasse to Odin and now there are almost none there at all, because very much like english players they made plans to make a regional popular server.There was a fairly large JP, EU and NA base on all servers, so you can apply your line of thinking to all servers. If JP players from Asura moved to Odin "en masse", as you stated, it's for the same reason people have been moving to Asura - server numbers across the board are alarmingly low and everyone thinking about transferring is eyeing the most active servers. I mean, why move to a server with 600 active players during peak times and risk having to move again in a few months when you can just choose the most populated server instead? I know of players on Asura who spent time recruiting players from other servers to join them there. Likewise, entire linkshells moved to Asura together. They didn't do this because they wanted to escape the JPs on their server, they did it because Asura has the most active English-speaking community. The fact that Asura is now lacking a JP community to balance out the NA/EU community is an unfortunate side effect of migrations, not a reason for them moving there to begin with.


Again, you are pushing what you like and want onto everyone else.What do you believe that is, exactly? The only thing I'm pushing for is what the development team sold us on, hard to get that on a server that sometimes struggles to crack 250 online accounts.


You aren't even on Asura. The auction house is fine, the playerbase is fine. There are no problems with Asura that would be fixed by adding 100% more players that want nothing to do with us and vice versa for them.Speak for yourself. What did the Japanese players ever do to you for you to exhibit such disdain for them? Is this an opinion you have for all players that do not speak your language, such as the French, Italian or German?

If your goal is to just be "fine" you aren't aiming high enough.


Merges are for the small servers

Progress at last.

[Aisu]

Here we go as i stated many times the "New" thing "Ambuscade" is so overcrowded there is a ton of people waiting outside the book spamming it i have been trying for 20 minutes and not gotten in. Many have left to come back and try again later. Worst part is most are asleep at this time with only 300 on from about 600(during NA primetime) to 900-1000 (during JP Time). SE has never been any good at making instances everytime they do there are restrictions based on the max amount of people at any given time. No one seems to get it

With everything soloable/low manable. Which was designed that way by SE themselves due to the fact the loss of players/server. They have just made it worst and impossible to really risk merging for a larger community, I hear Asura is probably the biggest NA community but doesn't make it better.

The Hype with Asura is word of mouth. You get enough people saying 1 thing then others are going to believe it and start saying it to others themselves without having actually experience first hand. I have heard a lot worst things about asura than good and the only good thing i have heard about asura and its the only good thing i will point out again is the large amount of NA/EU players. Now back to main point the larger the population in the current state of this game is worst for the people trying to accomplish stuff.

Before adoulin there were tons of things you could do such as. ADL event/ VW/ Neo Salvage / Meebles/ Neo Nyzul/ Legion. People wern't able to solo/duo/trio these. You needed a party to an alliance. There were no trusts and we needed the community to be large at this point.

Look at the current state of the game. Not how it use to be

This is important cause too many people think back like the point i posted above and are all like omg i miss the large communities. I do too but that doesn't mean with the state of the game as is now that it would be a good thing to have too big of an population anymore and so many people are too stubborn to accept this.

[Castanica]

"You feel repelled by a competing presence. Please wait a moment and try again"

[Diavolo]

Aisu, arguing that today's solo-friendly events like Ambuscade are reason to avoid merging servers is like arguing that no one should ever take a public bus, get on a plane or even get on a highway. It's congested, so let's stop server transfers. Let's start limiting the number of people a server will allow online at any given time. Let's stop accepting new subscriptions. I mean, really, stop and think for a minute how silly that argument is.

This is a problem that would have arisen even on a server with a population in the single digits - a few people all download the update and log on at the same time, run to Mhaura to try out Ambuscade, a few get in, but one player gets left out and thinks "OMG, only half a dozen people online, why is this happening?!" then runs to a forum to post about it. Do you think that server with half a dozen people is too large to entertain a merge? It's a rhetorical question, but in the context of this thread I get the impression it won't be treated as such.

Your worries of overpopulation aren't unreasonable, but considering how Odin and Asura have been handling life with 1,000+ simultaneous users just fine I'm sure servers with only a fraction of that activity would hold their own after a merge 'cause, y'know...

http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2015-06/4/16/enhanced/webdr08/enhanced-17011-1433451243-1.jpg
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiMr57auvjLAhUGFR4KHeLGBh8QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgiphy.com%2Fsearch%2Flife-finds-a-way&bvm=bv.118443451,d.eWE&psig=AFQjCNHzKNcGNJHlYrUoXAitJsaY02iaew&ust=1459978719272072

[lllen]

There is only 250 people on Cerberus all areas, the most I saw last week was 350.

[Castanica]

There is only 250 people on Cerberus all areas, the most I saw last week was 350.

Last I checked 250 was a lot of people.

[Aisu]

Yes they can "manage" but doesn't mean it is better. That is what you don't seem to understand. People could "manage" with 4000 people on a server but it would be hell trying to get into anything you want to do. What good is being able to shout and get people together easier if you can't even enter or pop the NM you want to fight because there are too many people Low Manning the fights?

I miss the big communities so don't get me wrong with that at all but i am being realistic here and not assuming anything like you are. you are saying well they can manage it but there are already a ton of people having issues with just 300-400 people online.
http://i.imgur.com/Q0eGj6j.png
The picture above shows only 384 people on cause some are at work or asleep at this time and there are so many issues. the population can go upto 1000 on this server and i dread trying to do this at that time.
http://i.imgur.com/rY22XoX.png

It's the same with everything they do. It is all designed as low mannable. People spamming volume 2 dragon cause you can solo VD and get 300 a run. Then go to zitah and get KI in like 2 mins and come back spam again.

The only positive thing about merging is more people but that is both a positive and negative and i'm sorry but the negative easily outweighs the other by far at the current state of the game. If they can change the state of this game where it is 100% required to have alliances to complete content then yes it will be better to have that bigger community. That is not a bias view on anything cause i wish it was viable to have the big community i miss from years ago but i am able to see that it isn't going to help anyone.

Again that isn't the current state of the game.

[Diavolo]

I miss the big communities so don't get me wrong with that at all but i am being realistic here and not assuming anything like you are.

Oh, let's not get presumptive now. I'm using facts to back up my argument - that the two largest servers have been doing well - while you're making the claim those population numbers are too high based off of anecdotal evidence that has no bearing on the topic at hand. As explained, your issue with Ambuscade (and other "hard mode" fights) is one that would be present even on a server with a population in the single digits, so there's no point playing it up. It's an issue with the game's PS2-centric software engine, not one made better or worse by population numbers as being on Cerberus today with only 220 online accounts I encountered the same situation you did above.


Again that isn't the current state of the game.

The game has been in a constant state of change since its very first days of public release. Do you agree or disagree with this?

[Aisu]

Oh, let's not get presumptive now. I'm using facts to back up my argument - that the two largest servers have been doing well - while you're making the claim those population numbers are too high based off of anecdotal evidence that has no bearing on the topic at hand. As explained, your issue with Ambuscade (and other "hard mode" fights) is one that would be present even on a server with a population in the single digits, so there's no point playing it up. It's an issue with the game's PS2-centric software engine, not one made better or worse by population numbers as being on Cerberus today with only 220 online accounts I encountered the same situation you did above.

How do you know the two largest servers are doing well?

As far as i know my friends i have on asura are doing nothing but complaining saying it is ridiculous and are thinking of coming back to shiva because of the huge population. The hype for asura isn't as great as some make it out to be. Many i know in my ls on Shiva are from asura saying it was just getting worst.

There are a limited amount of instance as SE has officially announced and they had a maintenance to try to fix it by trying to increase the amount of instances. Still having issues even when SE has Officially announced the congestion problem and are still having issues. Please tell me how merging servers will be beneficial in any way other than you can get more people to do stuff a little faster cause that doesn't mean anything if you can't even do the relevant content due to the population issue.



The game has been in a constant state of change since its very first days of public release. Do you agree or disagree with this?

Yes i do agree with this but the fact still remains Until They actually change it to where the current population on servers aren't already causing issues for many people. Just adding more people will just make it worst. The likely hood of this happeneing ever since they announced the likes of Rhapsody/HP scaling/Battle field difficulty choice and the big one is to summon 5 Trusts/person and solo most things is very unlikely.

[Diavolo]

How do you know the two largest servers are doing well?

Earlier in this thread Olor stated they hadn't seen any congestion at all for at least the past year. Likewise, detlef said almost everything he's read about the server's conditions has been positive. I don't spend a great deal of time browsing FFXI forums, but I've spent enough time on them to know if the conditions there were problematic we would have heard much more about it by now. In my experience, Asura's more vocal players tend to give off the impression of being a rather content group.

As Castanica pointed out, players want to be on larger servers, they "are moving by their own volition and planning to ODIN and Asura, nobody is making them do this." If, as you say, your friends on Asura are doing nothing but complaining maybe you should all take his advice and have them transfer to one that would be more to their/your liking. I hear Cerberus is a nice, quiet world. ;)


Yes i do agree with this but the fact still remains Until They actually change it to where the current population on servers aren't already causing issues for many people. Just adding more people will just make it worst.See, we at least agree that change is constant. Now forgive me for sounding a bit idealistic for a moment, but as a member of this community you are capable of bringing about some of that change. The development team does, in fact, pay attention to what we are saying and doing. Are you going to sit idly by and watch Final Fantasy XI fizzle out over time or are you going to discuss possible solutions to its current shortcomings, potentially bringing attention to concerns the development staff may be able address?

[Aisu]

See, we at least agree that change is constant. Now forgive me for sounding a bit idealistic for a moment, but as a member of this community you are capable of bringing about some of that change. The development team does, in fact, pay attention to what we are saying and doing. Are you going to sit idly by and watch Final Fantasy XI fizzle out over time or are you going to discuss possible solutions to its current shortcomings, potentially bringing attention to concerns the development staff may be able address?

Yes as a community member i do want change and understand that we can make change if SE's listens so telling them that to fix the issue is to merge servers is far from helping this game. It will make it worst and not actually telling SE the issues and trying to mask the situation with a merge isn't what i want. Yes a bigger community is better if the game was designed around it which FFXI isn't anymore. When FFXI started to lose a lot of its playerbase they started to develop new content for low man groups. They changed older content to low man groups, What this means is more groups can attempt this because you don't need to find a ton of people to do it anymore. Most content has no real limits like the game use to have like the 3 day waits for events that only lasted a few hours, This is not 2007. Like you said the game has changed and the game can change again BUT in it's current state it is not in a good position to merge. Before they even think about merging they would have to fix the game itself where people won't be locked out or have to fight over pop spots. Which is causeing many issues as I hear it a lot from others so it surprises me why some people can't see the issues it will bring when there are already issues on low populated worlds.

If they don't fix those issues before merging then they are just going to make it worst for the majority of players that want to get gear and actually want to do stuff instead of being told "No! You can't do that because too many people are stopping you from doing this here and now". Now spend your time spamming this book and waste your time for no good reason because a few players want to have more people to talk to and be able to form parties a little faster and then can't do what they formed the party for to begin with because too many people on at the same time is stopping them and wasting their time for no good reason.

I want a merge if SE changes the current state of game i really do but in its current state no thank you. Many agree with me and many people who had the same view as yours who i explained this to understood my opinion and completely agreed once they thought it through which is why it is baffling me as to why you are so determined to make the game play worst for many because you want more people to talk to.

[Aisu]

After a lot of people had been kicked off due to mass issues of D/Cs the server had 250 players on and i still had issues to get in i formed a full 6 man party which i might add took me literally 2 mins to do. When i searched Legion this is what i saw
http://i.imgur.com/31S3Jhc.png

1 party of 3 and 8 people soloing. Even though i was willing to make a party when i didn't need to since i have already soloed this just fine earlier. Yes it is faster with more people and it saves instances for more groups to do it with but most won't and these are some of the issues SE needs to fix about their game before they even think about merging.

[Castanica]

All Square had to do was limit how often you could enter because most of the issues are with a small number of hardcore people spamming it to death. 5 entries per day would of been more than adequate, I really don't get what they were thinking to make zero limitations.

Also I have to point out that doing a kill solo with trusts > going in with 6 random people.

[Stompa]

All Square had to do was limit how often you could enter because most of the issues are with a small number of hardcore people spamming it to death. 5 entries per day would of been more than adequate, I really don't get what they were thinking to make zero limitations.

Also I have to point out that doing a kill solo with trusts > going in with 6 random people.


I think unlimited entries is fine. But it needs multiple entrances, and multiple battlefield zones.

Some people want to challenge the Very Difficult mode. They might wipe out multiple times, while trying to find the best strategy. It is new content, people will want to try out optimum strategies. This requires multiple attempts. SE have tried to encourage people to try the Very Difficult mode battles, and for this to be possible there has to be the option of entering lots of times when the whole group are online and available. People play on different days and times, if you get your friends together at a certain day/times, you want to hit the event hard for as long as possible.

Also allowing Copper-vouchers conversion to Hallmarks, 1:25 or something, would cut down a lot of congestion at entrance sites. As people who only wanted one cape or another single item, could buy their item by converting vouchers to Hallmarks. This would leave the entrance free for parties who actually want to do the battles.
:)

[Keido]

Stop allowing SOLO entries in new things. ITS A MMORPG!! First month make it so people actually need 6 players to enter and then release it to the solo crowd. Makes no sense to keep limiting content so people can go solo things with trusts in a MMO. I am not sure why people even play if they dont want to play with other people.

[Castanica]

Stop allowing SOLO entries in new things. ITS A MMORPG!! First month make it so people actually need 6 players to enter and then release it to the solo crowd. Makes no sense to keep limiting content so people can go solo things with trusts in a MMO. I am not sure why people even play if they dont want to play with other people.

The majority disagree with you because if they didn't nobody would have trusts at all, what you class as an mmo is not relevant and just your personal preference.

Again the problem isn't allowing people to solo it, that's fine and a great addition. The problem is unlimited access to a limited resource.

[Keido]

The majority disagree with you because if they didn't nobody would have trusts at all, what you class as an mmo is not relevant and just your personal preference.

Again the problem isn't allowing people to solo it, that's fine and a great addition. The problem is unlimited access to a limited resource.

I disagree with you. There is no more community and people are actively punished for wanting to play with their friends or their linkshell? Make little to no sense to me. I agree that resource limitation could help as well but why not just release new content with a party minimum rather than watch instances get destroyed by people that cant or wont play with other people? Its not insane to party up and work together. It isn't a new concept.

Or they can make other instances if you want to party go to Selbina if you want to solo go to Mhaura.

[Castanica]

I disagree with you. There is no more community and people are actively punished for wanting to play with their friends or their linkshell? Make little to no sense to me. I agree that resource limitation could help as well but why not just release new content with a party minimum rather than watch instances get destroyed by people that cant or wont play with other people? Its not insane to party up and work together. It isn't a new concept.

Or they can make other instances if you want to party go to Selbina if you want to solo go to Mhaura.


People who want to play with friends are already rewarded above and beyond players who can't or don't want to do that though (they have access to the whole content from the game and they get better rewards for less effort), a solo player has a far longer grind for the same reward and have access to a much smaller minority of content and gear. I don't get how they would ever feel punished when they are the kings of the game (or is waiting a 10-20 minutes to enter such a punishment as to bar the evil other from accessing content completely?)

Here is the reality of the situation, if you make this party only content then you aren't forcing these people to group up because that's not how peoples minds work these days, they just won't do it at all and although that's great for "group orientated players" and gives them the playground to themselves it means the other players get nothing from this update and when they are paying for the service and the updates were offered in order to keep them here that's not going to work.

As for the last part, the problem isn't the starting npc, the book or the starting zone. The problem is how FFXI does this kind of content, each bcnm area isn't a single zone it's a massive zone with multiple copies of the area side by side (with enough distance between to give the illusion of being separate), that's just how this stuff is done in this game. If you were to use some program to slide your character across you would zoom across multiple other groups in their bcnm areas too.

[detlef]

Trusts aren't intended just for soloers and soloers aren't the only ones who use trusts. I already explained to you in another thread that a daily limit is a non-starter when players have a single month to earn enough hallmarks to buy the limited access gear. Your best response to that was "I don't think the gear is that good anyway," which is laughable. I don't know to what degree soloers clog the zone up but they do, taking up a valuable slot to earn fewer rewards per person while occupying the zone longer to do it. Even something as minor as having to team up with one other person, or better yet 2 other people would go a long way.

[Castanica]

Trusts aren't intended just for soloers and soloers aren't the only ones who use trusts. I already explained to you in another thread that a daily limit is a non-starter when players have a single month to earn enough hallmarks to buy the limited access gear. Your best response to that was "I don't think the gear is that good anyway," which is laughable. I don't know to what degree soloers clog the zone up but they do, taking up a valuable slot to earn fewer rewards per person while occupying the zone longer to do it. Even something as minor as having to team up with one other person, or better yet 2 other people would go a long way.

Daily limits to entry will stop the people who are incredibly hardcore and will do this for 10 hours a day, if you goto the npc you will see the same people there all day long. You will also see a lot of people in parties who are actually just one person with alts.

Most will be happy with doing it 1-3 times a day, as it is the few are spoiling it for everyone. If you have a limited resource and you let the hogs free reign they will eat everything.

Limit the quest to 4-5 times a day, they can't make unlimited instances so there are only so many ways they can fix this. This is an old game and they have hard limits on what they can actually do to fix this problem. This is not a modern mmo with a proper instancing system.

[Aisu]

All Square had to do was limit how often you could enter because most of the issues are with a small number of hardcore people spamming it to death. 5 entries per day would of been more than adequate, I really don't get what they were thinking to make zero limitations.

Also I have to point out that doing a kill solo with trusts > going in with 6 random people.

Sorry but i don't agree with this at all. Solo i was able to kill it on difficult in 15 mins with 5 random people it was dead on Very difficult in 2 minutes. Trusts are great if you can't get people but with everyone spamming this it isn't hard finding people to join. From all the conversation i have had about merging being an issue with the current game. The biggest issue really is trusts, I understand SE's logic behind trust because they were losing players and it was to help people who couldn't find parties.

They should of only made it possible to summon trust in the open world to level with. They should not have been allowed to be summoned in escha/reisinjima/HTBF/any relevant content so unless you were really good at actually soloing without the need of trust which only a small few actually areyou had to rely on finding people. With that THEN they should of merged servers together so we could have a bigger community and find people easier for stuff while still making it easy for people to level with trusts because that is probably something that would be most difficult to find people for unless you get power levelled by a friend which most don't have the luxury to do.

[Keido]

Sorry but i don't agree with this at all. Solo i was able to kill it on difficult in 15 mins with 5 random people it was dead on Very difficult in 2 minutes. Trusts are great if you can't get people but with everyone spamming this it isn't hard finding people to join. From all the conversation i have had about merging being an issue with the current game. The biggest issue really is trusts, I understand SE's logic behind trust because they were losing players and it was to help people who couldn't find parties.

They should of only made it possible to summon trust in the open world to level with. They should not have been allowed to be summoned in escha/reisinjima/HTBF/any relevant content so unless you were really good at actually soloing without the need of trust which only a small few actually areyou had to rely on finding people. With that THEN they should of merged servers together so we could have a bigger community and find people easier for stuff while still making it easy for people to level with trusts because that is probably something that would be most difficult to find people for unless you get power levelled by a friend which most don't have the luxury to do.

Trusts are the dumbest idea SE has ever implemented in this game. They have destroyed Linkshells and any Community we had. Sever merges wont help that because everyone wants a console game that's on the internet I guess.

[Aisu]

Trusts are the dumbest idea SE has ever implemented in this game. They have destroyed Linkshells and any Community we had. Sever merges wont help that because everyone wants a console game that's on the internet I guess.

1st post i possible couldn't agree any more with. Like i said though i could understand SE reasoning when people started to quit to help returning/new players to level up since finding a party for that would be impossible any more but that is where it should have ended. When SE allowed trusts into VW/Dynamis/Abyssea/Escha/Reisinjima/High Tier battlefields/Delve/even this new ambuscade event, they ruined as you say linkshells and communities and have made it hard for SE to go back on this now that so many people rely on trusts now.

I have been arguing not against merges per se but arguing at the fact that with the issues of the game as current merging would just make things worst and SE has to change the game to be more friendly in the issues i have stated in previous posts before they merge again. I would love to have a ton of people on a server again i honestly would love just merging all into a couple and get 1000's back on wanting to do stuff. It's just not beneficial for anyone when you can't even do some of the new relevant stuff due to congestion with just 300 people on the server.

[Diavolo]

Trusts are the dumbest idea SE has ever implemented in this game. They have destroyed Linkshells and any Community we had. Sever merges wont help that because everyone wants a console game that's on the internet I guess.

Linkshells - the larger, event-driven ones you're probably talking about - took a beating long before Trusts came about. Though you're right in that everyone seems to want to play an easy game - look at how well campaigns are received. Curious to see how low server populations need to go before something is done about it.

[Olor]

Having tried Ambuscade on Asura ((no thanks))

[Hyrist]

-snip-

Excuse me, good sir, but my pop culture association twitched. The manner of which you are speaking invoked an image of a character in my mind.

http://i.imgur.com/6PUkBqr.jpg

(all in good humor, I hope you get the reference)

I am staunchly against redesigning any content intended to be soloed, or limiting or removing the Trust system in any way from its current form. Being able to play solo through as much content as I can is the reason they got me to A. Purchase SoA. B. Pay for a server transfer. C. Fork over a monthly subscription. They limit or change that now, they lose me.

As far as people who seem to have an antiquated idea of what an MMO should be, I can't blame you, as this is a thirteen year old game, for having such a perspective. But please bear in mind this is 2016, not 2006. MMOs are commonplace now, the base is diversified, and worse, heavily conflicted and segmented. Back where people were begging for any sort of company in terms of video games, and the fact that the rest of the world did not really catch up to the early adapters of the internet as a part of daily life, it was acceptable to think of a concept of a game that forced you to be social in an era where gamers had problems in that department.

Now, it's much different. People are online every day from social media to cloud based documentation, or even streaming/video based income - and sitting at the computer doesn't mean these days that you have nothing else to do but play an MMO. So waiting around for four hours and/or spending days preparing a class you don't enjoy just to get into a piece of content that drops gear for the job you originally wanted to play anyways doesn't fly as acceptable hobby habits. Especially when this MMO is already quite aged and there are multiple competitors who don't charge a regular subscription.

Given the context of this day and age of online gaming, I'd say your viewpoint would do more to hasten the end of this game's services, then catering to the soloists.

That's not to say every player does or should treat this as a single player game, though it does have a lot of success in the elements that imply that. Rather I submit that MMOs are slowly adapting a new definition. In which grouping isn't a requirement for advancement, so much as it is to tackle heavier challenges for faster progression. That's why this piece of content appeals to me. Not just as a soloist but as a player in general.

It's also why I'm still on the fence with Server merges, while pieces of popular content become overcrowded due to lack of foresight for the influx of soloists out there.

I agree that the more people party, the better it is for everyone. Sadly my play-style does not fit with the average pickup group and that's not a common option for me (even though the door is open for whomever will jut take me up for how I'll play). There should still be the option for outliers like me to have fun and enjoy the game while still pushing progression, and I'm glad they've accommodated.

As far as what it's doing to the community? Forced bonds often are severed when they are no longer absolutely necessary. Bonds made willingly, often last regardless of condition. Insted of making groups out of need, I'd recommend you do it out of desire. They tend to be better groups all around anyways.

[Olor]

1st post i possible couldn't agree any more with. Like i said though i could understand SE reasoning when people started to quit to help returning/new players to level up since finding a party for that would be impossible any more but that is where it should have ended. When SE allowed trusts into VW/Dynamis/Abyssea/Escha/Reisinjima/High Tier battlefields/Delve/even this new ambuscade event, they ruined as you say linkshells and communities and have made it hard for SE to go back on this now that so many people rely on trusts now.


Eh, Trusts are good for the game. Look, I stood at ambuscade and said "hey anyone want to take a scrub to reduce congestion?" no one did, so I held up an instance while soloing it on easy. If folks don't want to group up there is not much to be done. I am glad that at least I have the option to continue to play if I want to. Without trusts I'd just be hooped when no one wanted to help out a scrub.

Congestion is a pain but it could easily be solved by folks welcoming players to join them. Folks would rather "optimize" even if that means losing 10 minutes to spamming enter on a book. Go figure. It would totally be faster for everyone if folks were willing to group up without being overly picky... even with the bonus points for higher tiers the reduction in standing around time would probably make up for having to go down a difficulty notch... but people don't think sensibly.

Anyway the devs don't help the situation by rewarding higher tiers with so many extra points, since all that does is disincentivize helping players who don't already have awesome gear. *shrugs* so scrubs have to do the content 5 times as much, and it takes the good players 5 times as long to enter the content. Seems like lose-lose.

PS: Hyrist I'd be up for duoing with you anytime. I'm not the best player but I am an OK blu and a better bard than Joachim, at the very least ;)

[Hyrist]

@Olor.

Deal. I'll look for you when I get off work. We'll figure out a tactic that works best for us and whomever we gather. I'm ok with spamming lower difficulties if that's what it takes.

[Olor]

@Olor.

Deal. I'll look for you when I get off work. We'll figure out a tactic that works best for us and whomever we gather. I'm ok with spamming lower difficulties if that's what it takes.

Sounds good. I am going to a show later (8 PST) but should be around off and on before then. I generally find that outside of the WHMs (which are very good at removing status debuffs, better than most players... bad at MP management tho) - trusts are, at best worth a 115 player. So I am willing to bet even mediocre players will have a better time of it than trusts.

[Hyrist]

I've found that at least, support wise, the right combination can wind up being a better overall result. For example, Kupipi, Selh'Teus, and Apururu make a highly sustainable support combination that can endure pretty much any long fight, so long as the Spike damage doesn't outright kill your tank.

And I can go on about different tanks that synergize with the healing Trio in different ways too. But usually, when I'm worried about sustain, those three are a go-to, as the demands lessen, I can drop one off. Selh if sustain isn't a huge issue, and Kupipi if I'm not worried about status effects being removed quickly.

[Dekusuta]

What makes Kupipi good in that combo?

I don't have Apururu UC so I go with Yoran as my go to healer + Sel'theus for sustainability ; I'm still trying to find a 3rd. I usually fill that slot with a support like Koru or Arcelia II.

[Hyrist]

What makes Kupipi good in that combo?

Kupipi prioritizes debuff removal. In situations where Paralyze is highly frequent, as well as the Tank being cursed and petrified, having those debuffs removed asap can make sure critical skills and healing can go of when needed. She'll cast Stona and have its animation complete before the Dragon's skill that applies it at times.

That said, she's the first to be removed if I have someone who can manually remove debuffs.

[Keido]

Excuse me, good sir, but my pop culture association twitched. The manner of which you are speaking invoked an image of a character in my mind.

http://i.imgur.com/6PUkBqr.jpg

(all in good humor, I hope you get the reference)

I am staunchly against redesigning any content intended to be soloed, or limiting or removing the Trust system in any way from its current form. Being able to play solo through as much content as I can is the reason they got me to A. Purchase SoA. B. Pay for a server transfer. C. Fork over a monthly subscription. They limit or change that now, they lose me.

As far as people who seem to have an antiquated idea of what an MMO should be, I can't blame you, as this is a thirteen year old game, for having such a perspective. But please bear in mind this is 2016, not 2006. MMOs are commonplace now, the base is diversified, and worse, heavily conflicted and segmented. Back where people were begging for any sort of company in terms of video games, and the fact that the rest of the world did not really catch up to the early adapters of the internet as a part of daily life, it was acceptable to think of a concept of a game that forced you to be social in an era where gamers had problems in that department.

Now, it's much different. People are online every day from social media to cloud based documentation, or even streaming/video based income - and sitting at the computer doesn't mean these days that you have nothing else to do but play an MMO. So waiting around for four hours and/or spending days preparing a class you don't enjoy just to get into a piece of content that drops gear for the job you originally wanted to play anyways doesn't fly as acceptable hobby habits. Especially when this MMO is already quite aged and there are multiple competitors who don't charge a regular subscription.

Given the context of this day and age of online gaming, I'd say your viewpoint would do more to hasten the end of this game's services, then catering to the soloists.

That's not to say every player does or should treat this as a single player game, though it does have a lot of success in the elements that imply that. Rather I submit that MMOs are slowly adapting a new definition. In which grouping isn't a requirement for advancement, so much as it is to tackle heavier challenges for faster progression. That's why this piece of content appeals to me. Not just as a soloist but as a player in general.

It's also why I'm still on the fence with Server merges, while pieces of popular content become overcrowded due to lack of foresight for the influx of soloists out there.

I agree that the more people party, the better it is for everyone. Sadly my play-style does not fit with the average pickup group and that's not a common option for me (even though the door is open for whomever will jut take me up for how I'll play). There should still be the option for outliers like me to have fun and enjoy the game while still pushing progression, and I'm glad they've accommodated.

As far as what it's doing to the community? Forced bonds often are severed when they are no longer absolutely necessary. Bonds made willingly, often last regardless of condition. Insted of making groups out of need, I'd recommend you do it out of desire. They tend to be better groups all around anyways.

No I really don't get your reference nor do I care. What I do care about is the community or what little of it is left anyway. I have a linkshell its a very good linkshell we party we gather we do events. There are people who actively refuse to group for whatever reason and I ask why play. Just go play ff7 if you want to play by yourself. It makes no sense and I don't think its completely unfair to require parties of 6 to do content. Its not hard to find people to do things if you look. You all keep making excuses that avoid whats the real crux of the issue you just want to play a solo game. That is completely fine. I have no issue with how people have their fun as long as it doesn't impact me and I assume you feel the same as long as I don't impact you.

I can only say what its like on Phoenix so your experience might be different. Most of the time we have 5 solo entrants and a duo. While those people are in there are 30 people waiting to get in. Is that poor design you bet it is. If say you were required to have 6 people enter and really you can do this content with any party make up of any competent players 1 person is left out not 30 spamming a book for 45 min to fight something that takes 2 min to kill. Its absolutely crazy. It isn't difficult to group up its purely that you don't want to.

So we can agree to disagree about the best way to solve where we are but allowing everything to be used by solo players goes farther to drive a death nail into the game than anything else. I am not advocating blocking people from content because that is not something I believe in but I am advocating that people stop being so selfish and find people to do things with the overall experience is better for everyone.

[Stompa]

So we can agree to disagree about the best way to solve where we are but allowing everything to be used by solo players goes farther to drive a death nail into the game than anything else. I am not advocating blocking people from content because that is not something I believe in but I am advocating that people stop being so selfish and find people to do things with the overall experience is better for everyone.


I think this is a problem that has increased since the ilvl changes to the game, and the plethora of augmented 119 gear which can vary in power quite a lot. On level 75, people would take you in groups if you had gear that was 70-75 and you had capped combat/magic skills and at least 50% of your merits. Also, in those days, people understood that they could have a "favourite job" but that if they wanted to get any nice gear, they needed a utility job, WHM or RDM or something that would be allowed into parties. And to have a decent basic gear / skill set for that utility job, and be proficient at playing it.

In those days I feel it was easier to just /poke somebody and ask to join on my WHM or something. Today, the sheer power of high-end weapons, Jobmaster powers, etc. have made people a bit nervous about asking to join. The increase in levels 75-->119 and the huge increase in gear power, has made some casual players a bit ashamed and nervous of their basic functional utility jobs, and reluctant to try and team up.

I think it is a great shame, when people don't ask to join, or are not allowed to join. Partying in FFXI often leads to more fun, more laughter, strong friendships, sometimes friendships that last a lifetime.

[Pixela]

I think Square made this event how they did on purpose to shut people up about constantly complaining they want merges.

[Keido]

I think this is a problem that has increased since the ilvl changes to the game, and the plethora of augmented 119 gear which can vary in power quite a lot. On level 75, people would take you in groups if you had gear that was 70-75 and you had capped combat/magic skills and at least 50% of your merits. Also, in those days, people understood that they could have a "favourite job" but that if they wanted to get any nice gear, they needed a utility job, WHM or RDM or something that would be allowed into parties. And to have a decent basic gear / skill set for that utility job, and be proficient at playing it.

In those days I feel it was easier to just /poke somebody and ask to join on my WHM or something. Today, the sheer power of high-end weapons, Jobmaster powers, etc. have made people a bit nervous about asking to join. The increase in levels 75-->119 and the huge increase in gear power, has made some casual players a bit ashamed and nervous of their basic functional utility jobs, and reluctant to try and team up.

I think it is a great shame, when people don't ask to join, or are not allowed to join. Partying in FFXI often leads to more fun, more laughter, strong friendships, sometimes friendships that last a lifetime.

This is 100% right. People are not excluded as they once were because the talent pool is much smaller these days. There are still the occasional A-holes that ruin people and then they believe the only way to play is solo. Which means they are missing out on a TON of things. It just requires a little effort to approach people and ask for help. I will say that when you do approach players with stars above their names know what you want and how to get it and specifically what help you need. It really goes a long way.

[Olor]

I think this is a problem that has increased since the ilvl changes to the game, and the plethora of augmented 119 gear which can vary in power quite a lot. On level 75, people would take you in groups if you had gear that was 70-75 and you had capped combat/magic skills and at least 50% of your merits. Also, in those days, people understood that they could have a "favourite job" but that if they wanted to get any nice gear, they needed a utility job, WHM or RDM or something that would be allowed into parties. And to have a decent basic gear / skill set for that utility job, and be proficient at playing it.

In those days I feel it was easier to just /poke somebody and ask to join on my WHM or something. Today, the sheer power of high-end weapons, Jobmaster powers, etc. have made people a bit nervous about asking to join. The increase in levels 75-->119 and the huge increase in gear power, has made some casual players a bit ashamed and nervous of their basic functional utility jobs, and reluctant to try and team up.

I think it is a great shame, when people don't ask to join, or are not allowed to join. Partying in FFXI often leads to more fun, more laughter, strong friendships, sometimes friendships that last a lifetime.

You've got it right here. There has never been such a HUGE disparity in base power between players at endgame before. The sad fact is, despite spending millions on augments and doing my utmost to find every bit of ACC gear I can reasonably find, I can't even TOUCH a lot of content. I am not going to lie to get into groups or pretend I am a better player than I am.

As for support, I have a bard but it is in 109 empy gear. I don't really prioritize gearing it anymore because it doesn't net me invites anymore. I used to play support all the time to gear my other jobs but now there is a huge abyss between scrubs like me and players doing higher tier content. And since bard doesn't help me get gear anymore, I've been focussing on my solo jobs because they are how I get gear. Maybe my bard would be fine, I don't know, folks don't seem to be looking for bards anymore, and I don't feel like leveling GEO now that it's the flavour of the month.

[detlef]

Word to the wise: GEO isn't flavor of the month. It's flavor of the rest of the game's life.

[Olor]

Word to the wise: GEO isn't flavor of the month. It's flavor of the rest of the game's life.

Touche. Well regardless, while I may be (and probably will be) into leveling it up later and gearing it, that's not really a very good solution to my right now problems. And I wouldn't really be able to gear it anyway :/

Besides, with my luck as soon as I had it leveled and not completely awful SE would nerf it.

[Hyrist]

What I do care about is the community or what little of it is left anyway.

No you don't. You only care about what you perceive as the community. It has to stay the way you want it or it's bad.

What I see? Are the loads of people coming back to the game because they can finish their bucket list solo, who are excited about new content without dealing with old problems like the high-level,high-gear elitism that still mires a lot of groups. They're jumping into linkshells with open recruitment and talking, socializing, asking for help, be it information and presence, and getting it DONE because they don't need a full party, but they do need/want a bit of company.

The community isn't falling apart. It's growing, taking new shape. Threads on Reddit are still being speckled with people who are new or returning and asking for advice. And I for one did not join simply to be antisocial. But I'm not going to wait around for an hour to find that one rare party that is ok with my playstyle, when I can get three normals done bringing along one to two people of my own, or even going solo, it just a hair bit more time.

So, yes, I staunchly disagree. Solo players are doing more to keep this game on life support than the die-hard linkshells that won't accept them, and there are plenty of players in-between. Creating content that appeals on all levels of it, does more to maintain the health of the game than appealing to one or the other. That's what Ambuscade does in its ideal. They just needed to cut down the congestion issue.

[Diavolo]

The community isn't falling apart. It's growing, taking new shape.

Taking new shape, yes, but growing? No, the FFXI community as a whole isn't growing at all, nor are the server-specific communities. I assume you're playing on Asura which might explain why you might have such an opinion, but many of those returning players aren't sticking around very long and there is good reason for it.

I don't have anything against the more solo-friendly environment the development team has bred with FFXI over the last two or three years, but at its heart this will always be a massively multiplayer online RPG that rewards players for coming together and it would be nice if the new director kept that in mind going forward. It would also be nice if, after all was said and done, this game could be laid to rest without having sacrificed that which made it so appealing in the first place.

[Hyrist]

Again, the 'traditional' idea of a massive multiplayer game is dated and, frankly obselte.

Masively Multiplayer really just means multiplayer at this point when you have games series such as Halo, Call of Duty, League of Legends, DOTA 2, etc, pulling numbers that flat out dwarf anything even MMO's golden child, WoW did in its hayday.

Put bluntly, the 'traditional MMO' is dying a slow death and it's being spotted in everything from the inability to reproduce WoW's one-off successes and the continual change of even modern MMOs into a more laze fare style. Games that pitted on the idea of a hardcore multiplayer mindset, switched its model quickly (Wildstar) or never even got to finish taking shape (EQ Next, VtM MMO). Most of the old guard that are sticking around have adapted or are adapting more accessible playstyles to match the changing gaming environment. Simply, MMOs are no longer competing with just MMOs anymore, but with the entire Multiplayer market.

Meanwhile more and more 'single player' games (with a few exceptions) continually adapt more multiplayer elements. The pull is to find that happy medium that encompasses many players of differing styles, and it's rubbing a subsection of gamers on both sides of the plate the wrong way. But it's happening, it's been happening and it's wise of game developers everywhere to find their place in the wake of it all. That's not to say completely solo content, but things like Ambuscale? That's about where it's at - more effective with a group, but comparable to do solo if desired or necessary. The idea of a mandatory party, especially one manually made, is becoming more and more unappealing by the playerbase.

So no, the heart has changed. Time to get with the beat.

[Pixela]

Taking new shape, yes, but growing? No, the FFXI community as a whole isn't growing at all

Do you even play other mmorpg titles? These games do not grow, this is as odd as saying you aren't a year younger today than you were last year. No kidding!

There is no mmorpg that is bigger a year later, it does not happen. I think this odd idea is possibly comng from companies releasing registered player numbers? It doesn't happen.

There is nothing anyone can do to make this game grow, it's not about growing it's about retention. Keeping most players longer than would normally happen, I can guarantee you that if this game was anti solo they would have massive losses in a very short amount of time now.

Also it's funny how the people who are so concerned about the community are almost always the ones that have very little to do with it, they just play with their linkshell friends.

[Diavolo]

There is nothing anyone can do to make this game grow, it's not about growing it's about retention. Keeping most players longer than would normally happen, I can guarantee you that if this game was anti solo they would have massive losses in a very short amount of time now.

Well, there is your mistake, assuming I have any interest in making this game "anti solo." The argument here isn't to remove options, it's to foster a healthy environment that can keep both the hardcore and the casual players happy. It's not difficult, but it does require a bare minimum of effort which, as this Ambuscade ordeal is showing us, may indeed be asking for too much.

[Jin_Uzuki]

https://i.imgur.com/vg7MEx1.jpg

<_<

[Courtelise]

What I see? Are the loads of people coming back to the game because they can finish their bucket list solo, who are excited about new content without dealing with old problems like the high-level,high-gear elitism that still mires a lot of groups.

I just reactivated after a year and a half away. Just one of many breaks since launch. My first day back there were less than 300 players online. If there is one thing I've struggled with, it's coming to terms with the fact that this game will never be what it once was. Then again, I don't have the time for it to be what it once was, so I think that's a good change. I'm back this time with the goal of finishing what I started either with my husband or alone. My LS is gone. My friend list is empty. I'm hoping my new attitude helps me to enjoy what's left solo.

[Alhanelem]

The landscape of MMOs, and even all gaming in general, is changing. People have to accept that what once was won't ever be again. We can look back to the good ol' days fondly, but we can't get them back even though we all want to. As much as all of us have loved this game for years and years, times change and today's gamers for the most part aren't looking for a game that will bust their balls. As was noted by another poster, any other game that has attempted to bring back the ultra hardcore style has failed miserably- there just isn't a large enough audience for it anymore. It's adapt or die in this world.

[OmnysValefor]

I'm sure that we'll never see another popular MMO with a grind like Relics, let alone Mythics or Ergon.

That said, I refuse to believe that group-centric MMOs have to be failing so miserably. I genuinely believe that it's how these games are handling grouping that is the problem.

When I played FFXIV 1.x, groups would pull a pack of mobs, claim them all and the an outside person would aoe them down, at no penalty to experience. Noone learned a thing about their class play in a party.

In 2.0, people would FATE grind to level cap and then be tossed into endgame where grouping was a must with again, no idea how to play their class (Example, as an Arcanist/Summoner/Scholar I equipped AOE-flash for fast claiming in fates, because that was the key to success in fates). I'd run into tanks that never figured out that that game's flash was centered on the caster rather than the target, so they'd just be spamming flash til dry on MP and it's doing nothing. I'd find tanks and DPS spamming their single hardest-hitting ability, without the buildup combo doing severely gimped damage.

The random dungeon finder had such a long wait period for damage dealers, and you couldn't use it while in a group (fates) unless everyone in the group wanted to. You couldn't use it while soloing with your chocobo out (an adventuring fellow/trust basically). So if you wanted to use it, you had to be doing something solo. Further, FATE'ing was far and away the faster experience.

There were training leves, both for your class and general game mechanics but they didn't teach anything. The level 10 one could be tanked by a DD just fine and so they did. I get it, wanna get in and get it over with, but nobody learned anything. You might be laughing "Yeah, that's just level 10", but the first dungeon was level 15.

There were class/job quests that kind-of had you perform your role via clunky interfaces. As a healer, you'd heal/-na others, but you had to tab-target to each person. There was no party-interface for the NPCs in these quests. I always kept my baby-tank in current gear and I found the bosses in some of the quests overly punishing if I did taunt off my NPC big brother.

The tank quests often teach nothing about enmity/hate/threat/whatever. You either melee away like a weak DD or you taunt and the NPC tank never really tries to get it back. And since most of the tank quests don't have an NPC healer or DPS, you never get the chance to learn anything about aoe-tanking.

I strive to be a strong tank in every MMO I play, so watch things like enmity and aoe tools closely but not every player gets it and so they get to level cap, are suddenly thrust into groups that way-outgear them, and they're helpless. Some of these games make the first fights you experience at level cap intense DPS races, which causes a lot of strife in the new community. Players that have never been taught how to DPS must DPS like a pro (hi Tonberry King, Demon Wall).

Another thing. Dungeon finders are poorly conceived. They often launch with the basic bonus (finding a dungeon from anywhere in the world) with few of the necessary protections or benefits. People being able to Need gear they can't use, being unable to blacklist/kick rude troublemakers, being unable for form cross-server friendships and most irritating of all: When I would find a good cross-server group, I couldn't go again with the same group. We had to disband and all go at it again. The next healer may be trying to heal in DPS-mode (Like XI's Light Arts/Dark Arts) because it's what his overgeared buddies at level-cap can do. The next DPS may pay no attention to markings or party chat.

---

I agree that the world of MMO players is changing but I 100% believe the reason party-centric multiplayer games are failing is because of how the game as a whole is designed. You start out and they throw you in a canoe on a calm river. You get to level-cap and you're given freight ship to command. "What? It's basically the same thing, it floats and keeps you dry.".

---

Once the group-centric MMO is gone, <3 XI, I feel like the best communities are gone. Games where you don't need any help for 90% of activities seem to have awful communities. It sucks.

[OmnysValefor]

Stompa, I concede that the majority of MMO players want instant gratification and soloability any time they desire. The majority of FFXI vets, no matter how much they loved it, would admit that seeking for hours sucked, because there was little you could by yourself aside from crafting.

Still, every game seems to be flocking to a model that ELEVENTY MILLION PEOPLE tried. SE is not the only company that moved on from previous working models (FFXI) to follow something closer to Warcraft's, and it's all for the allure of more players. Other games' successors or sequels (not saying 14 is an 11 sequel) have also done this.

I feel like every modern MMO is a student of WoW's lessons and not their own lessons. It makes sense, they're businesses and want a slice of the big pie, disregarding the pie they had all to themselves.

[Diavolo]

https://ez9b2q-ch3302.files.1drv.com/y3mPZqyporyJHCqE2JIJDeEU2byLn1Vl-uOtX_Db2uNDYYHD1x14m3XuMmCnKGkailySkw35bA7OwqS5fPf2BQ5J7H1LWOSmWWPQSJ4_hwjcvYxnSIAkO59JqKlEPOJ6AyKq3Gbiu8wQAvpY5J6nNdf1uAlRDzcuM91vn8mAj3GE3A?width=366&height=281&cropmode=none

Cerberus' online population at 6:00pm pacific time tonight, a large portion of those being AFK bazaars. How low must a server's population go before those running the game do something about it?

[Pixela]

https://ez9b2q-ch3302.files.1drv.com/y3mPZqyporyJHCqE2JIJDeEU2byLn1Vl-uOtX_Db2uNDYYHD1x14m3XuMmCnKGkailySkw35bA7OwqS5fPf2BQ5J7H1LWOSmWWPQSJ4_hwjcvYxnSIAkO59JqKlEPOJ6AyKq3Gbiu8wQAvpY5J6nNdf1uAlRDzcuM91vn8mAj3GE3A?width=366&height=281&cropmode=none

Cerberus' online population at 6:00pm pacific time tonight, a large portion of those being AFK bazaars. How low must a server's population go before those running the game do something about it?

People like you baffle me.

It's like your sitting in a bath full of freezing cold water, complaining how cold it is and you refuse to pay a guy $12 to turn the heat up. Sure it would be nice if they did a free merge for you but the game is built around low man and higher server loads now. If it really bothers you so much and you put a ton of hours a week into the game, just server jump? or not I guess....maybe you like complaining more.

It might sound like I'm bashing you but I'm not, I'm just being a realist here.
It's obvious they aren't going to do it after all this time, this is the millionth topic post about it and they are all ignored.

[Jin_Uzuki]

He's not refusing to pay anything. The game is not free. He paid for the game and the monthly cost.

[Cesil]

He's not refusing to pay anything. The game is not free. He paid for the game and the monthly cost.

This. We are already paying for that...so why should we be forced to move because they refuse to merge servers? It is not about being cheap/poor, I could EASILY transfer right now..but guess what, there is still quite a few of my friends on Lakshmi, despite the super low population. People need to stop being apologists and just realize a server merge should have happened ages ago.

I am paying to play a MMORPG..massive..multiplayer...not 300 people RPG lol come on.

[Pixela]

He's not refusing to pay anything. The game is not free. He paid for the game and the monthly cost.

You pay for access to the servers, nothing else.

Again as I said, do I think a merge is a good idea? Sure but are they going to do them? No obviously not, they are needed here and on ffxiv on some servers but they refuse to do them. This has been the case for what....4-5 years now? and people still ask for it when the threads are ignored completely. What does that tell you?

So with that knowledge at your disposal do you complain and log in every day angry or do you spend $12 to rectify the situation yourself and enjoy the game more from that point on? This is just common sense really, I paid for a server merge and I'm really happy I did because the game was far more fun after doing it. It was well worth it, I would of preferred a merge but I'm happier playing the game now so if it's a choice between paying $12 or banging your head on a wall...Ill pay the $12. You know how often I do a /sea all now? Almost never, guess how often on my old server? Every day.

If you can't afford it then I can at least understand that but to be able to afford it and not do so out of principle, ruining your own playing experience is cutting your nose off to spite your face. Makes no sense to me at all.

I'll use an analogy for you :D if you are sitting next to someone and they let off a giant smelly fart would you sit there and complain about how smelly they are while not moving, or should you expend some energy to get up to move away? That's what you're doing, sitting in it and complaining.

[Pixela]

This. We are already paying for that...so why should we be forced to move because they refuse to merge servers? It is not about being cheap/poor, I could EASILY transfer right now..but guess what, there is still quite a few of my friends on Lakshmi, despite the super low population. People need to stop being apologists and just realize a server merge should have happened ages ago.

I am paying to play a MMORPG..massive..multiplayer...not 300 people RPG lol come on.

It's not being an apologist, it's that they aren't going to merge them are they?

I was in your position, I moved and I am much happier for doing it. Just giving some advice, maybe you think endlessly complaining and playing a game with a tinge of sadness is better than spending $12...if so then by all means, rock on.

[OmnysValefor]

Funny thing is that frienships are the key reason some people play.
.
I too feel like I could go to Asura or Odin, but I lose my friends. They won't come for the sake of their friends, etc.

This is more like a landlord whose had the heat go out in an entire apartment building and telling the tenants each must call a gas guy themselves.

I don't care how much you love solo/lowman, lowlowpop sucks when you need help in a fight or need a crafter.

Yes, people like having linited competition to ???s, crabs, Ambuscade, HTBF, etc but SE could fix a few easily, like more good apex camps, more pages for escha regions, not having agroing mobs on top of ???s. More copies of HTBF instances.

[Jin_Uzuki]

You pay for access to the servers


I pay for having a functional product and play a massive MMORPG. There is no "MMO" without "Players".


, nothing else.

Oh I see. Then let's close the forum. Since SE can do anything they want to the game and we shouldn't complain, right?

The game doesn't even have to work, as long I can log into the servers!


So with that knowledge at your disposal do you complain and log in every day angry or do you spend $12 to rectify the situation yourself and enjoy the game more from that point on? This is just common sense really, I paid for a server merge and I'm really happy I did because the game was far more fun after doing it. It was well worth it, I would of preferred a merge but I'm happier playing the game now so if it's a choice between paying $12 or banging your head on a wall...Ill pay the $12. You know how often I do a /sea all now? Almost never, guess how often on my old server? Every day.

There is also a choice "don't play, don't pay until they merge the server". I do not support poisonous practices (It's the same reason I don't buy day-one DLC or used the awful cash-shop in XIV), SE is offering an infective service, and a lot of people have the right to complain.

[Deirdre]

I have to say, I had never seen the "you pay to access the servers, nothing more" argument in FFXI before. I saw it plenty in the XIV forums, usually by people who were desperate to throw cash at SE for things that could be in the game. Funny thing about XI is, it's an older MMO, which has plenty of disadvantages, but one thing that it offers is quality service in exchange for fee. Now I don't know if they'll merge servers, but let's not start giving them an excuse to do nothing based on the fact that "we just offer you servers! Our work here is done", hmmm?

[Jin_Uzuki]

I saw it plenty in the XIV forums, usually by people who were desperate to throw cash at SE for things that could be in the game.?

Ooooh. I KNEW it sounded familiar, you are absolutely right.

Funny how FFXIV fans are stuck paying 5-6€ per old item that used to available for free, meanwhile we get basically ALL the old items from past events from a single NPC at every repeat.. :D

[CrAZYVIC]

FFXI Sadly need a new DEV team with fresh ideas and can understand the needs of a modern player in 2016.

First Major change this game needs. Instanced Content Only - Drop Open World Content Model.

Like ambuscade they are going in the Right direction with this.

Supreme Ambuscade 8 - 12 Players. Drops items to augment ambuscade Montly set, can drop Sulevia +1, Hizamari +1 pieces. Similar Escha/Skirmish you can add 3 augments to Sulevia/Hizamari sets. 20, 20, 10.

Another adjustments.

Uncap the Currency we can get montly. So you can farm M/E/R weapons in the process.

Escha/Reisenjima "important" battles, can be accessed via Book in Selbina. 6 - 12 Players Limit.

Unity Top Tier battles can be accessed via Book in Nashmau. 6 - 12 players Limit.

The New Dev team will go search in ffxiah, BG wiki the Top players in each job to balance the game, they will calculate with maths, spreadsheets the damage of all the jobs and all DPS jobs will have a damage difference not more than 5%. So instead of Get bad beta testers, dev team will bring "Masters" from each Job.

Ajustments to make the game modern

The amount of instances will be increased, buying New powerfull Hardware Specs.

Ambuscade will allow 300 instances same time
Escha/Reinsejima will allow 300 instances same time
Unity Top Tier Monsters will allow 300 instances same time.

Implementantion of Auto Party Finder.

Supreme ambuscade, Escha/Rei, Top Tier Unity NM. 2 Tanks - 2 Healers - 8 DPS/Support Jobs
Intense - Regular ambuscade. 1 Tank, 1 Healer, 4 DPS/Support.

Only during the instanced battles listed here this jobs stances will be avaliable.

Tank Stance Increase HP 50% - Effect Cure received II +50%, regen +20
DPS Physical jobs. Increase Accuracy/Ra Accuracy 30% - Increase Attack/Ra Attack 30%
Magical Jobs. Increase MA accuracy/Ma Attack 30%.
Healer Jobs. Increase Cure Potency Effect II 50%, Adds refresh +5, Increase MP 50%.

Most of the jobs similar WoW will have DPS-Tank-Healer Stances. So depending how you feel you can pick your role before queue.

Before queue you will have comply some requeriments on Attack, Accuracy etc depending your Job. If you can't reach the Min parameters necessary you will be unable to queue.

After all this doing Server merges in ratio 1 - 3. Merge 3 Servers into One.

Every month New ambuscade set, rotating Neck, Cape, ear1, ear 2, ring 1, ring 2 for augment 20/20/10.

Battle Adjustments.

In High Level Cop, Zilart, ToAU, WotG, Abbysea, Vanilla FFXI. Apex Mobs will be added, they will not agroo but they will Link, Monsters Very Tough ILV119 will be added in those zones as well.

In addition the repop rate of the monsters in Escha, SoA, Reinsejima and this Zones will be increased x3. To aleaviate the server Merge. So in crawler nest, in ro meave, Grauberg S, miseraux coast, Wajaom you will find Very Tough and apex Mobs for example.

Probably with ajustments like this. The game can bring back all the horde of players moved FF14. Its not as easy as a server merge.

1.- People dont make groups anymore, the shout in jeuno 5 hours its over.

2.- People dont want wait in the line for appear their mobs they want press one button and put the queue for a machine find you a group

3.- People want play their favorite job, not the job imposed for the comunity to clear a content, with this ajustement you can play PUP, MNK or the job you want after Experts balance that for us.

[Stompa]

FFXI Sadly need a new DEV team with fresh ideas and can understand the needs of a modern player in 2016.

First Major change this game needs. Instanced Content Only - Drop Open World Content Model.

Like ambuscade they are going in the Right direction with this.




I think the Dev Team we've got are awesome. I really admire so many of the new features they've added in recent years, and the way they've listened to *reasonable* requests by players on the forum. It is quite clear that the Devs are trying very hard to share their enthusiasm with us, and to keep the game clicking along at a jolly pace.

On instanced content, it has a place. I mourn the lack of lottery pop NMs in Seekers areas, I think lottery-pop NMs add a certain realism to the areas. Also, as a fantasy-game adventurer, you should feel that you are going out into the wilderness and hunting rare and terrifying NMs, not just standing in an automated queue like you're at the Supermarket or something.

There is a lot to be said for the "thrill of the hunt" and the excitement of actually hunting rare NMs. If everything becomes queueing for instanced content, it feels dead to me, there is no RPG Adventuring, no hunting, just this feeling of "going through the motions."

I totally agree with the later point you made, about adding high level non-aggro mobs to old areas. This would mean that people who no longer have any low-level jobs, could enjoy playing in their favourite old areas again. Obviously level-synch was intended for this, but so few people actually want to level-synch these days. So adding more high-level mobs to old areas would be a great idea.

Also, I would hope to see the adding of /lockstyle costume sets for automatons, one or two sets would be enough. Because automatons are supposed to be performers, they are supposed to have a flamboyant and decorative side too, not just battle armor. The costumes could even be added as a clothcraft recipe or a quest, then added as a /lockstyle and worn over the Valoredge etc. battle armors. I would like to see my automaton wearing baggy pyjamas with tassels and a little bobble hat, as a /lockstyle, with his normal battle armor on underneath.

[Ulth]

I got to do some NM hunting in Escha Ru'aun. I liked it. NM hunting is probably one of my favorite things in FFXI. As much as I rip on treasure hunter, I actually like hunting NMs for treasure.

[Immortta]

FFXI Sadly need a new DEV team with fresh ideas and can understand the needs of a modern player in 2016.

First Major change this game needs. Instanced Content Only - Drop Open World Content Model.

Like ambuscade they are going in the Right direction with this.

Supreme Ambuscade 8 - 12 Players. Drops items to augment ambuscade Montly set, can drop Sulevia +1, Hizamari +1 pieces. Similar Escha/Skirmish you can add 3 augments to Sulevia/Hizamari sets. 20, 20, 10.

Another adjustments.

Uncap the Currency we can get montly. So you can farm M/E/R weapons in the process.

Escha/Reisenjima "important" battles, can be accessed via Book in Selbina. 6 - 12 Players Limit.

Unity Top Tier battles can be accessed via Book in Nashmau. 6 - 12 players Limit.

The New Dev team will go search in ffxiah, BG wiki the Top players in each job to balance the game, they will calculate with maths, spreadsheets the damage of all the jobs and all DPS jobs will have a damage difference not more than 5%. So instead of Get bad beta testers, dev team will bring "Masters" from each Job.

Ajustments to make the game modern

The amount of instances will be increased, buying New powerfull Hardware Specs.

Ambuscade will allow 300 instances same time
Escha/Reinsejima will allow 300 instances same time
Unity Top Tier Monsters will allow 300 instances same time.

Implementantion of Auto Party Finder.

Supreme ambuscade, Escha/Rei, Top Tier Unity NM. 2 Tanks - 2 Healers - 8 DPS/Support Jobs
Intense - Regular ambuscade. 1 Tank, 1 Healer, 4 DPS/Support.

Only during the instanced battles listed here this jobs stances will be avaliable.

Tank Stance Increase HP 50% - Effect Cure received II +50%, regen +20
DPS Physical jobs. Increase Accuracy/Ra Accuracy 30% - Increase Attack/Ra Attack 30%
Magical Jobs. Increase MA accuracy/Ma Attack 30%.
Healer Jobs. Increase Cure Potency Effect II 50%, Adds refresh +5, Increase MP 50%.

Most of the jobs similar WoW will have DPS-Tank-Healer Stances. So depending how you feel you can pick your role before queue.

Before queue you will have comply some requeriments on Attack, Accuracy etc depending your Job. If you can't reach the Min parameters necessary you will be unable to queue.

After all this doing Server merges in ratio 1 - 3. Merge 3 Servers into One.

Every month New ambuscade set, rotating Neck, Cape, ear1, ear 2, ring 1, ring 2 for augment 20/20/10.

Battle Adjustments.

In High Level Cop, Zilart, ToAU, WotG, Abbysea, Vanilla FFXI. Apex Mobs will be added, they will not agroo but they will Link, Monsters Very Tough ILV119 will be added in those zones as well.

In addition the repop rate of the monsters in Escha, SoA, Reinsejima and this Zones will be increased x3. To aleaviate the server Merge. So in crawler nest, in ro meave, Grauberg S, miseraux coast, Wajaom you will find Very Tough and apex Mobs for example.

Probably with ajustments like this. The game can bring back all the horde of players moved FF14. Its not as easy as a server merge.

1.- People dont make groups anymore, the shout in jeuno 5 hours its over.

2.- People dont want wait in the line for appear their mobs they want press one button and put the queue for a machine find you a group

3.- People want play their favorite job, not the job imposed for the comunity to clear a content, with this ajustement you can play PUP, MNK or the job you want after Experts balance that for us.

Wow dude, just go play XIV... These ideas would ruin this game.

[Jin_Uzuki]

FFXI Sadly need a new DEV team with fresh ideas and can understand the needs of a modern player in 2016.

First Major change this game needs. Instanced Content Only - Drop Open World Content Model.

Like ambuscade they are going in the Right direction with this.

Supreme Ambuscade 8 - 12 Players. Drops items to augment ambuscade Montly set, can drop Sulevia +1, Hizamari +1 pieces. Similar Escha/Skirmish you can add 3 augments to Sulevia/Hizamari sets. 20, 20, 10.

Another adjustments.

Uncap the Currency we can get montly. So you can farm M/E/R weapons in the process.

Escha/Reisenjima "important" battles, can be accessed via Book in Selbina. 6 - 12 Players Limit.

Unity Top Tier battles can be accessed via Book in Nashmau. 6 - 12 players Limit.

The New Dev team will go search in ffxiah, BG wiki the Top players in each job to balance the game, they will calculate with maths, spreadsheets the damage of all the jobs and all DPS jobs will have a damage difference not more than 5%. So instead of Get bad beta testers, dev team will bring "Masters" from each Job.

Ajustments to make the game modern

The amount of instances will be increased, buying New powerfull Hardware Specs.

Ambuscade will allow 300 instances same time
Escha/Reinsejima will allow 300 instances same time
Unity Top Tier Monsters will allow 300 instances same time.

Implementantion of Auto Party Finder.

Supreme ambuscade, Escha/Rei, Top Tier Unity NM. 2 Tanks - 2 Healers - 8 DPS/Support Jobs
Intense - Regular ambuscade. 1 Tank, 1 Healer, 4 DPS/Support.

Only during the instanced battles listed here this jobs stances will be avaliable.

Tank Stance Increase HP 50% - Effect Cure received II +50%, regen +20
DPS Physical jobs. Increase Accuracy/Ra Accuracy 30% - Increase Attack/Ra Attack 30%
Magical Jobs. Increase MA accuracy/Ma Attack 30%.
Healer Jobs. Increase Cure Potency Effect II 50%, Adds refresh +5, Increase MP 50%.

Most of the jobs similar WoW will have DPS-Tank-Healer Stances. So depending how you feel you can pick your role before queue.

Before queue you will have comply some requeriments on Attack, Accuracy etc depending your Job. If you can't reach the Min parameters necessary you will be unable to queue.

After all this doing Server merges in ratio 1 - 3. Merge 3 Servers into One.

Every month New ambuscade set, rotating Neck, Cape, ear1, ear 2, ring 1, ring 2 for augment 20/20/10.

Battle Adjustments.

In High Level Cop, Zilart, ToAU, WotG, Abbysea, Vanilla FFXI. Apex Mobs will be added, they will not agroo but they will Link, Monsters Very Tough ILV119 will be added in those zones as well.

In addition the repop rate of the monsters in Escha, SoA, Reinsejima and this Zones will be increased x3. To aleaviate the server Merge. So in crawler nest, in ro meave, Grauberg S, miseraux coast, Wajaom you will find Very Tough and apex Mobs for example.

Probably with ajustments like this. The game can bring back all the horde of players moved FF14. Its not as easy as a server merge.

1.- People dont make groups anymore, the shout in jeuno 5 hours its over.

2.- People dont want wait in the line for appear their mobs they want press one button and put the queue for a machine find you a group

3.- People want play their favorite job, not the job imposed for the comunity to clear a content, with this ajustement you can play PUP, MNK or the job you want after Experts balance that for us.

You want to turn this game in XIV.

Yeah, no. FFXI as it is right now, it's the perfect balance of old and new.

[Alhanelem]

Ooooh. I KNEW it sounded familiar, you are absolutely right.

Funny how FFXIV fans are stuck paying 5-6€ per old item that used to available for free, meanwhile we get basically ALL the old items from past events from a single NPC at every repeat.. :D
If they had a system in place that would allow them to charge you money for items, they'd probably do it. They probably just haven't developed one because 1) the playerbase isn't large enough for it to be worthwhile and 2) the clientele for this game would probably be more resistant to the idea ( I don't like it either but since I always do the events, it's not an issue anyway)


Yeah, no. FFXI as it is right now, it's the perfect balance of old and new. I rather agree with this sentiment. For most things (not all though) I feel like they've adapted to changing demands in an appropriate way.

[Pixela]

FFXI Sadly need a new DEV team with fresh ideas and can understand the needs of a modern player in 2016.

First Major change this game needs. Instanced Content Only - Drop Open World Content Model.

Like ambuscade they are going in the Right direction with this.

Supreme Ambuscade 8 - 12 Players. Drops items to augment ambuscade Montly set, can drop Sulevia +1, Hizamari +1 pieces. Similar Escha/Skirmish you can add 3 augments to Sulevia/Hizamari sets. 20, 20, 10.

Another adjustments.

Uncap the Currency we can get montly. So you can farm M/E/R weapons in the process.

Escha/Reisenjima "important" battles, can be accessed via Book in Selbina. 6 - 12 Players Limit.

Unity Top Tier battles can be accessed via Book in Nashmau. 6 - 12 players Limit.

The New Dev team will go search in ffxiah, BG wiki the Top players in each job to balance the game, they will calculate with maths, spreadsheets the damage of all the jobs and all DPS jobs will have a damage difference not more than 5%. So instead of Get bad beta testers, dev team will bring "Masters" from each Job.

Ajustments to make the game modern

The amount of instances will be increased, buying New powerfull Hardware Specs.

Ambuscade will allow 300 instances same time
Escha/Reinsejima will allow 300 instances same time
Unity Top Tier Monsters will allow 300 instances same time.

Implementantion of Auto Party Finder.

Supreme ambuscade, Escha/Rei, Top Tier Unity NM. 2 Tanks - 2 Healers - 8 DPS/Support Jobs
Intense - Regular ambuscade. 1 Tank, 1 Healer, 4 DPS/Support.

Only during the instanced battles listed here this jobs stances will be avaliable.

Tank Stance Increase HP 50% - Effect Cure received II +50%, regen +20
DPS Physical jobs. Increase Accuracy/Ra Accuracy 30% - Increase Attack/Ra Attack 30%
Magical Jobs. Increase MA accuracy/Ma Attack 30%.
Healer Jobs. Increase Cure Potency Effect II 50%, Adds refresh +5, Increase MP 50%.

Most of the jobs similar WoW will have DPS-Tank-Healer Stances. So depending how you feel you can pick your role before queue.

Before queue you will have comply some requeriments on Attack, Accuracy etc depending your Job. If you can't reach the Min parameters necessary you will be unable to queue.

After all this doing Server merges in ratio 1 - 3. Merge 3 Servers into One.

Every month New ambuscade set, rotating Neck, Cape, ear1, ear 2, ring 1, ring 2 for augment 20/20/10.

Battle Adjustments.

In High Level Cop, Zilart, ToAU, WotG, Abbysea, Vanilla FFXI. Apex Mobs will be added, they will not agroo but they will Link, Monsters Very Tough ILV119 will be added in those zones as well.

In addition the repop rate of the monsters in Escha, SoA, Reinsejima and this Zones will be increased x3. To aleaviate the server Merge. So in crawler nest, in ro meave, Grauberg S, miseraux coast, Wajaom you will find Very Tough and apex Mobs for example.

Probably with ajustments like this. The game can bring back all the horde of players moved FF14. Its not as easy as a server merge.

1.- People dont make groups anymore, the shout in jeuno 5 hours its over.

2.- People dont want wait in the line for appear their mobs they want press one button and put the queue for a machine find you a group

3.- People want play their favorite job, not the job imposed for the comunity to clear a content, with this ajustement you can play PUP, MNK or the job you want after Experts balance that for us.

I don't think you realize this but most of the things you complain about are the reason that most that are still here like it, this mmo is unique. If we wanted the things you are suggesting we would go play a game that embraces those things.

[Jin_Uzuki]

If they had a system in place that would allow them to charge you money for items, they'd probably do it.

It's kinda already exist. I mean, there is already a system that allows you to insert "codes" for in-game reward (See Chocobo Shirt and Hat from Seeker ultimate), and of course server transfer which pays IRL money for a change that ultimately affects the in-game date.

So it's obvious a choice. Why? I don't know. Perhaps SE highers-up don't think it's worth or it will profitable enough with the small populace left.

[Pixela]

If they had a system in place that would allow them to charge you money for items, they'd probably do it. They probably just haven't developed one because 1) the playerbase isn't large enough for it to be worthwhile and 2) the clientele for this game would probably be more resistant to the idea ( I don't like it either but since I always do the events, it's not an issue anyway)

I rather agree with this sentiment. For most things (not all though) I feel like they've adapted to changing demands in an appropriate way.

Honestly it has nothing to do with size of the playerbase because there are far smaller games with cash shops, it's more that the players of ffxi value its lore very highly and would rage at the kind of things you get in ffxiv. Xiv players are very accepting of its odd cash shop outfits and mounts, lore and immersion destroying tie ins from other games are also welcomed there. They try very hard to keep everything here in the reality of the world they have made, the devs have a lot of respect for that.

Just different audiences.

[BurnNotice]

FFXI Sadly need a new DEV team with fresh ideas and can understand the needs of a modern player in 2016.

First Major change this game needs. Instanced Content Only - Drop Open World Content Model.

Like ambuscade they are going in the Right direction with this.

Supreme Ambuscade 8 - 12 Players. Drops items to augment ambuscade Montly set, can drop Sulevia +1, Hizamari +1 pieces. Similar Escha/Skirmish you can add 3 augments to Sulevia/Hizamari sets. 20, 20, 10.

Another adjustments.

Uncap the Currency we can get montly. So you can farm M/E/R weapons in the process.

Escha/Reisenjima "important" battles, can be accessed via Book in Selbina. 6 - 12 Players Limit.

Unity Top Tier battles can be accessed via Book in Nashmau. 6 - 12 players Limit.

The New Dev team will go search in ffxiah, BG wiki the Top players in each job to balance the game, they will calculate with maths, spreadsheets the damage of all the jobs and all DPS jobs will have a damage difference not more than 5%. So instead of Get bad beta testers, dev team will bring "Masters" from each Job.

Ajustments to make the game modern

The amount of instances will be increased, buying New powerfull Hardware Specs.

Ambuscade will allow 300 instances same time
Escha/Reinsejima will allow 300 instances same time
Unity Top Tier Monsters will allow 300 instances same time.

Implementantion of Auto Party Finder.

Supreme ambuscade, Escha/Rei, Top Tier Unity NM. 2 Tanks - 2 Healers - 8 DPS/Support Jobs
Intense - Regular ambuscade. 1 Tank, 1 Healer, 4 DPS/Support.

Only during the instanced battles listed here this jobs stances will be avaliable.

Tank Stance Increase HP 50% - Effect Cure received II +50%, regen +20
DPS Physical jobs. Increase Accuracy/Ra Accuracy 30% - Increase Attack/Ra Attack 30%
Magical Jobs. Increase MA accuracy/Ma Attack 30%.
Healer Jobs. Increase Cure Potency Effect II 50%, Adds refresh +5, Increase MP 50%.

Most of the jobs similar WoW will have DPS-Tank-Healer Stances. So depending how you feel you can pick your role before queue.

Before queue you will have comply some requeriments on Attack, Accuracy etc depending your Job. If you can't reach the Min parameters necessary you will be unable to queue.

After all this doing Server merges in ratio 1 - 3. Merge 3 Servers into One.

Every month New ambuscade set, rotating Neck, Cape, ear1, ear 2, ring 1, ring 2 for augment 20/20/10.

Battle Adjustments.

In High Level Cop, Zilart, ToAU, WotG, Abbysea, Vanilla FFXI. Apex Mobs will be added, they will not agroo but they will Link, Monsters Very Tough ILV119 will be added in those zones as well.

In addition the repop rate of the monsters in Escha, SoA, Reinsejima and this Zones will be increased x3. To aleaviate the server Merge. So in crawler nest, in ro meave, Grauberg S, miseraux coast, Wajaom you will find Very Tough and apex Mobs for example.

Probably with ajustments like this. The game can bring back all the horde of players moved FF14. Its not as easy as a server merge.

1.- People dont make groups anymore, the shout in jeuno 5 hours its over.

2.- People dont want wait in the line for appear their mobs they want press one button and put the queue for a machine find you a group

3.- People want play their favorite job, not the job imposed for the comunity to clear a content, with this ajustement you can play PUP, MNK or the job you want after Experts balance that for us.

To be honest, what you are asking for, already exist with FFXIV.

[Alhanelem]

Honestly it has nothing to do with size of the playerbase because there are far smaller games with cash shops, it's more that the players of ffxi value its lore very highly and would rage at the kind of things you get in ffxiv. Xiv players are very accepting of its odd cash shop outfits and mounts, lore and immersion destroying tie ins from other games are also welcomed there. They try very hard to keep everything here in the reality of the world they have made, the devs have a lot of respect for that.

Just different audiences.
So you're saying it's not lore destroying to parade around in behemoth suits and such in FFXI? What about the dragon quest and FFXIV tie ins? You act like none of that stuff you're criticizing has happened here.

Also, I don't consider things like outfits of major NPCs "lore destroying." It's kind of ridiculous to imply that those characters are the only people in the world that might have clothes like that.

Trust in FFXI? While they started with a lore explanation for the first ones we obtained, virtually every trust released after the first ones, whether it's a monster, people from back in time, brand new characters created just for an event, etc. was given as an item, with no story or background as to why that trust is a thing. It's supposedly magic created by bonds of friendship, but many of the newer NPCs are only ever tenuously associated with the player character at all.

When Iroha and Lightning ans Shantotto showed up in FFXI, there was a story to go with it to explain things away. You can argue FFXIV is doing more of it if you want, just don't try to suggest that FFXI has never had any tie ins or things that come from previous games.

(as far as that big long post that's getting quoted... just let the games be different. While FFXI does need to adapt to modern trends in some ways, it doesn't need to be wholesale transformed into something else.)

[Cesil]

Instead of making a new thread..bumping this one lol. As I mentioned in another thread...(QoL one) can we get some server merges please? I would move myself to Asura but someone there has my name..I can't lose my name heh ^^; and I still know a buncha people on Lakshmi...but like..we have 300 people on max lol that is kind of sad...

[Sirmarki]

I would just like to add, it's not always about player numbers, its about communication and getting players that are willing to pull together.

I have a few Linkshells...
One has over 80+ members (Generally around 30 online at any one time), The other has around 6. The smaller Linkshell does more than the largest Linkshell.

[Cesil]

Oh yes that is true! Hm I can't seem to find anyone to do stuff with on mine >.<

[Diavolo]

I would just like to add, it's not always about player numbers, its about communication and getting players that are willing to pull together.

I have a few Linkshells...
One has over 80+ members (Generally around 30 online at any one time), The other has around 6. The smaller Linkshell does more than the largest Linkshell.

Your argument is valid when speaking about linkshells in today's setting, but not for the health of the game in the grand scheme of things. Lower server populations naturally make accomplishing certain tasks more difficult, such as finding like-minded individuals to create those linkshells.

[Cesil]

Your argument is valid when speaking about linkshells in today's setting, but not for the health of the game in the grand scheme of things. Lower server populations naturally make accomplishing certain tasks more difficult, such as finding like-minded individuals to create those linkshells.

Yeah like..there is a max total of 200 people on my server at peak..lol I think it is time they did a merge. This isn't gonna happen...

[Iromi]

I really do hope they do some type of server merge sooner or later it seems a bit silly for them to have all these servers with so few people playing on them I wouldn't be shocked at all to see some with less people than Lakshimi at some point we're gonna have servers with less than 100 people on them (I hope they do something before then) but in the long run it just makes sense for them to do a merge maybe down to like 3 or 4 servers it would end up with them saving money idk just my thoughts on all this

[Zaine]

I really like this game a ton, but it really needs a merger I started last Aug its so unique in today's mmo market :( it just needs people 300 people isnt very much and there is only so much the trusts can do

[Castanica]

Instead of making a new thread..bumping this one lol. As I mentioned in another thread...(QoL one) can we get some server merges please? I would move myself to Asura but someone there has my name..I can't lose my name heh ^^; and I still know a buncha people on Lakshmi...but like..we have 300 people on max lol that is kind of sad...

You know you could lose your name from a merge too right?

[Sirmarki]

I was anti-merge, now I'm leaning towards server merge. The numbers seem to be falling more so lately. Around 8PM UK (GMT+1) I see around 299-320 or so players on. If you break this down to level 99's, its around 100 less, and then there are mules. JP time is just under 1000 population.

So, if they merged two servers of equal/rough size then I would see an estimated 1700-2000 JP time, and around 650-700 UK time which I think is a good number.

[Cesil]

I was anti-merge, now I'm leaning towards server merge. The numbers seem to be falling more so lately. Around 8PM UK (GMT+1) I see around 299-320 or so players on. If you break this down to level 99's, its around 100 less, and then there are mules. JP time is just under 1000 population.

So, if they merged two servers of equal/rough size then I would see an estimated 1700-2000 JP time, and around 650-700 UK time which I think is a good number.

ah yeah I did not even think about that. So that being said..the population is even lower then I originally thought. So yeah..how about a dev update or something on server merges? I really want to keep playing but just cannot justify paying a sub on such a low populated server...

On Asura my friend showed me a screen shot of the population, it was 1,100 in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. If they merged servers down to about 4 or 5..I think every server would have that much.

And I wonder if people realize that having everyone flock to Asura is actually hurting the game. :/ That is why I refuse to go there.

[Cesil]

Bump for some sorta dev response?

I'd really like to know if merges are happening or not...it's been a long time since we heard either yes or no. :/

[Castanica]

Bump for some sorta dev response?

I'd really like to know if merges are happening or not...it's been a long time since we heard either yes or no. :/

They never reply to these threads, here or on ffxiv.

[Paridise]

Carbuncle mid day Pst is 200-300 , up time I've seen 700: 8am, (midnight 12)jp. Server is dead

[Cesil]

They never reply to these threads, here or on ffxiv.

I see they reply on the JP side quite a bit..but yeah, sadly you are right. Figured I'll keep this thread active till they see it and say something or mention it in their live letter..or here its called something else..lol. Freshy picked?

I hope they do something soon, everyone flocking to asura is actually hurting the game :( more servers are dying causing people to just not play as much and then ultimately cancel their sub.

[Zaine]

I really hope they do merge servers soon, this is a terrific game it just needs people, and there is people everywhere but they are scattered through out so many servers and 300 per server with this massive world just seems so empty

[Cesil]

Yeah...I can't get anything done beyond solo content :( There is no one to do anything with!

In all the facebook groups there is quite a few threads of people requesting server merges..and expressing their concerns about low populations.

SE you really ok with leaving it this way? I can't keep playing a game where I can't do anything because there is no players to do content with when it requires people..come on lol.

[Zaine]

I hope they decide soon, Idk how much longer a lot of the servers are gonna hold on it feels as if its holding on by thin threads D:

[Sirmarki]

Carbuncle mid day Pst is 200-300 , up time I've seen 700: 8am, (midnight 12)jp. Server is dead

200 total? or 200 level 99's?

[Cesil]

200 total? or 200 level 99's?

For mine its like 260 total...some are 99, some are anon

but yea if this doesn't happen and there is no reply, idk how this will last...i know eventually ill end up unsubbing again, sigh, thought by now they'd address this..oh well :(

[Diavolo]

For mine its like 260 total...some are 99, some are anon

but yea if this doesn't happen and there is no reply, idk how this will last...i know eventually ill end up unsubbing again, sigh, thought by now they'd address this..oh well :(

Cerberus was/is just as bad, as seen here (http://imgur.com/kPvYFTU) three months ago during midnight Eastern time. The populations should have never been allowed to dip this low.

While Asura is night and day by comparison, I haven't seen any indication whatsoever since my move over a month ago that it's on the verge of overpopulation despite the worries expressed in threads like this one. I've done BCNMs, Ambuscade, CP and Escha NMs without any issue. It could easily accept one of the lower populated servers in a merge, preferably one with a more active JP population.

[Cesil]

I heard Asura has 1k-1.5k on average. Also another point is..no one wants to come play with me when they ask how many people are online and I keep telling them 200ish lol.

Perhaps SE really does want this game to die..a shame, I really liked it. :(

[Spectreman]

I'm glad that i picked Asura. Can't imagine how horrible would be playing on a dead server.

/cheers Asura!!

[Spectreman]

No you don't. You only care about what you perceive as the community. It has to stay the way you want it or it's bad.

What I see? Are the loads of people coming back to the game because they can finish their bucket list solo, who are excited about new content without dealing with old problems like the high-level,high-gear elitism that still mires a lot of groups. They're jumping into linkshells with open recruitment and talking, socializing, asking for help, be it information and presence, and getting it DONE because they don't need a full party, but they do need/want a bit of company.

The community isn't falling apart. It's growing, taking new shape. Threads on Reddit are still being speckled with people who are new or returning and asking for advice. And I for one did not join simply to be antisocial. But I'm not going to wait around for an hour to find that one rare party that is ok with my playstyle, when I can get three normals done bringing along one to two people of my own, or even going solo, it just a hair bit more time.

So, yes, I staunchly disagree. Solo players are doing more to keep this game on life support than the die-hard linkshells that won't accept them, and there are plenty of players in-between. Creating content that appeals on all levels of it, does more to maintain the health of the game than appealing to one or the other. That's what Ambuscade does in its ideal. They just needed to cut down the congestion issue.


Couldn't say better.

/claps

[Diavolo]

I heard Asura has 1k-1.5k on average. Also another point is..no one wants to come play with me when they ask how many people are online and I keep telling them 200ish lol.

Yeah, I dealt with some of that. Not everyone is willing to spend $18 to move on top of the $13 to return to a game that has changed drastically since they last played, so they come back to wither away on quiet servers, frustrated that they can't overcome certain hurdles and quit out of frustration. Not much hope in bringing them back after that.

[pangaea]

The last two years in August they had a "Discount campaign" in which the transfer fee was half price> $9. I'm hoping they at least offer that again this year, If they don't announce a merge real soon. Tired of most things I put in the AH not selling.

[Feary]

per to the OP, Sylph is now 151 to 350 total players.

we were told S.E would start to look into a server merge in April. Running into August and still no Update.

Sylph til I DIE. however

the problem now is that everyone is getting restless and just moving in groups to other servers(asura). it is snowballing.

first time in 13 years ive considered moving. its now critical for the life of this server and game please s.e do or at least say something.


p.s. at this point i would be a fan of 3 regional/playtime based servers and end this topic.

[OmnysValefor]

I loathe how people talk about the Grandeur of Asura, as if it's doing fine and the others failing.

It's only that people quit or bandwagon to Asura. It's like the fat guy at the table eating off everyone else's plate.

More than likely, Reddit saved Asura.

[Castanica]

per to the OP, Sylph is now 151 to 350 total players.

NA peak player numbers are not total population, also I have no idea why you're asking them to reply to this. You know they won't.

There is a far greater chance they will close the game down than do a merge. They aren't even interested in trying to add micro-transactions which shows they have given up on even trying to make the game more profitable. I would be amazed if the game has more than a couple of years left in it.

Move to Asura or just suck it up, merges aren't worth doing at this point.

[Feary]

NA peak player numbers are not total population, also I have no idea why you're asking them to reply to this. You know they won't.

There is a far greater chance they will close the game down than do a merge. They aren't even interested in trying to add micro-transactions which shows they have given up on even trying to make the game more profitable. I would be amazed if the game has more than a couple of years left in it.

Move to Asura or just suck it up, merges aren't worth doing at this point.

i been playing over a decade i know what and when are peak times for each region/time zone. regardless there should be more ppl to play with period.

playtime dont differ that much on different servers anyway. its not like a merge will bring 1000 ppl who all play at the same time... be logical.

ok so your opinion is "its not worth it". fine. however my point was that s.e needs to respond like they said they would. so i can make a decision.

micro-transactions or not, s.e has already said they will keep the game up until there is player interest. they have options and enough ppl playing for 3-5 servers. they will server merge before they fully quit updating. its just a matter of when.

even so ... when that happens i still give it a a few years to die. which is enough for me.

so im just waiting for s.e to make an announcement on the subject. they want to evaluate and come to a conclusion. i just dont want it to be too late where we are much worse off than we are now.

[Diavolo]

I loathe how people talk about the Grandeur of Asura, as if it's doing fine and the others failing.

I don't know about fine, but it's alive and kicking which is more than I can say for the server I came from.

[lllen]

I don't know about fine, but it's alive and kicking which is more than I can say for the server I came from.

I transferred to Asura end of March........omg I forgot what it is like to see people moving around, shouting for parties, stuff actually sells on the AH. All levels of people, not just 99+s and mules

[Authority]

I don't know about fine, but it's alive and kicking which is more than I can say for the server I came from.

All I can say is that it gets frustrating trying to find a camp to XP in in Garlaige and Crawlers' Next. They are always packed...

A good kind of frustrating :)

[Castanica]

This is why I'd hate to be an mmorpg developer.

If they do merges the complaints will change from "do merges" to "I LOST THE NAME I HAD SINCE BETA!" or "I can't get XP, there are too many people" "I can't do content, there are too many people!"

Just look at all the complaints after ambuscade, people want to be surrounded by others...until those other people get in their way. Then it's not cool!

[Diavolo]

This is why I'd hate to be an mmorpg developer.

If they do merges the complaints will change from "do merges" to "I LOST THE NAME I HAD SINCE BETA!" or "I can't get XP, there are too many people" "I can't do content, there are too many people!"

You're simply never going to make everyone happy no matter how hard you try, even in a 14 year old game like this one with only tens of thousands of active accounts remaining. If the devs were to refrain from making changes out of fear that they would receive criticism for it then they'd never change a thing... and get criticized for that, too. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, so might as well do what you want.

[Castanica]

This is their official responense, for people who didn't see it:


Merging Worlds don’t always come without downsides, so we would like to hold off on doing that until a majority of players are calling for mergers. For those who cannot wait, please consider using the World Transfer Service.

So no, there are no plants to merge servers.

[Diavolo]

So no, there are no plants to merge servers.

Right...
https://media0.giphy.com/media/12VCCoafv7lX1K/200_s.gif

...is what they looked like after saying they'd hold off on server merges until a majority of players call for them.

[RalphTheGalka]

Fine, then add another player to the list of those calling for merges. Carbuncle is not pining for the fjords, it's stone dead.

[Jin_Uzuki]

Alright, free week. Surely this means a lot of people are going to be into the game!

https://i.imgur.com/wdQhFWr.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nad94tM.jpg

...not.

But hey, apparently this is a happy, healthy state to the game because people can solo Apex Mobs?

[BBWallace]

Free week just started what and hourish ago? Give it time NA are still asleep.

[Seriha]

I'm of the mind that if they have no plans to merge servers, they should abolish the server transfer fee and instead enact a daily cooldown. This would have the net benefit of allowing people to freely explore and find a server that's right for them, while those who worry about congestion could feasibly transfer with their friends to a lesser populated server and continue to play uninhibited.

Of course, I don't think anyone would argue against more "instances" of Legion/Ambuscade, Salvage, and various BCs. Which tends to be the general complaint against the merge request. Nonetheless, since cross-server play isn't a thing, LFG tools are bare bones, and general PUG elitism is a thing, people finding others to do what they want to is an uphill battle in the current server environment.

[Immortta]

That would be a really bad idea for the community as it would completely destroy it imo. Not to mention issues with name stealing and it makes 0 sense for SE to do from a business standpoint.

[Seriha]

On the contrary, happy players are more likely to continue keep playing, thus paying. "Just go to Asura!" is only going to work for so long, and the alternative of consistently paying to swap servers until you do find that match is simply a pill not many are willing to swallow.

Otherwise, we're not in 2005 anymore. If you're foolish enough to have something like an LS bank, you deserve every bit of risk that it's stolen. And short of things like +1 synths, most everything of worth nowadays is also R/E, which means once its in someone's possession, that's it. Doesn't matter if they keep playing, quit tomorrow, or jump to another server, no one else will be getting that given item from them.

As for name theft, well, I'm of the mind people tend to take that a bit too personally. Of all the potentially unique combinations of letters in the English alphabet, coming up with something decidedly "you" isn't as difficult as it may seem. No, not everyone can be Cloud, Sephiroth, Naruto, or whatever other "common" or "popular" name, but they also shouldn't be. And if you are taking that extra step to jump over with friends, you should definitely have an outside means of contacting them just so you can sync back up in the event your name is taken. I'm not completely heartless, though. Anyone who hasn't played in a year should probably forfeit a name's rights in the event someone does want it. Losing that isn't as tragic as, say, XIV's housing situation.

[Obysuca]

Alright, free week. Surely this means a lot of people are going to be into the game!


Exactly how I felt. The last free time, my friend's list exploded with people returning, even people I haven't seen in 7-10 years came back. This time? Not a single person online, both of my ls are dead empty except the occasional ~5 people in one :/ That's one thing that keeps me from fully resubbing consistently. Lack of people and what people there are, never do anything. I know that doesn't help the problem >_> but still lol

I have a burning passion to play XI, especially since the majority of mmos out are boring / plain bad and XI is still pretty good (though not as good as it once was), but it's kinda depressing to get on, see no one on, try to start something, get no one, finally see someone doing something, but then because you're not a blm, geo, sch that's geared to the teeth, then you don't get invited and you think "I guess I'll try to gear one of those so I can gear the job I actually enjoy", but then you run into the "you need this gear to do it" people, but said gear is from the content you're trying to do...

I know for a fact (done it multiple times back before everyone I knew quit) that my pup can easily tank pretty much anything in the game, it's just no one wants pup or to give it a try, at least from my experience. Maybe it's better on other servers.

[kylani]

On the contrary, happy players are more likely to continue keep playing, thus paying. "Just go to Asura!" is only going to work for so long, and the alternative of consistently paying to swap servers until you do find that match is simply a pill not many are willing to swallow.

Otherwise, we're not in 2005 anymore. If you're foolish enough to have something like an LS bank, you deserve every bit of risk that it's stolen. And short of things like +1 synths, most everything of worth nowadays is also R/E, which means once its in someone's possession, that's it. Doesn't matter if they keep playing, quit tomorrow, or jump to another server, no one else will be getting that given item from them.

As for name theft, well, I'm of the mind people tend to take that a bit too personally. Of all the potentially unique combinations of letters in the English alphabet, coming up with something decidedly "you" isn't as difficult as it may seem. No, not everyone can be Cloud, Sephiroth, Naruto, or whatever other "common" or "popular" name, but they also shouldn't be. And if you are taking that extra step to jump over with friends, you should definitely have an outside means of contacting them just so you can sync back up in the event your name is taken. I'm not completely heartless, though. Anyone who hasn't played in a year should probably forfeit a name's rights in the event someone does want it. Losing that isn't as tragic as, say, XIV's housing situation.

I disagree over the name. I had to move before and my son lost his name and it hasn't been quite the same since. When he plays, he often says how he misses it, and I do too. Our friends still call him by his original name because that's who he was to them for so many years. Others quit because of the name change. There were other circumstances as well, but if you do love your name and lose it, it doesn't help.

Name aside, I don't want a merge because I like the server I'm on as it is. It's just about perfect for me and my friends. I definitely don't want more overcrowding and over camping anymore than we have now. In fact, I could take a little less, but the last thing I want is another forced merge.

I'm not against letting people voluntarily move if they want with a free move over forced server merges. Free voluntary moves once a year or so. I don't understand why someone has to have the ability to keep swapping servers over and over till they find a match. You need time to meet folks. Random jumping won't help. Maybe the problem isn't the server, and those people will never be happy? Why ruin other servers because of a few?

[Kjara]

Personally I'd not mind a server merge. It is getting a bit lonely here on Siren. I've yet to encounter anyone who levels Monipulators like I do. If it'll help me meet fellow Monsters, by all means, merge away.

[Jin_Uzuki]

I disagree over the name. I had to move before and my son lost his name and it hasn't been quite the same since. When he plays, he often says how he misses it, and I do too. Our friends still call him by his original name because that's who he was to them for so many years. Others quit because of the name change. There were other circumstances as well, but if you do love your name and lose it, it doesn't help.

Name aside, I don't want a merge because I like the server I'm on as it is. It's just about perfect for me and my friends. I definitely don't want more overcrowding and over camping anymore than we have now. In fact, I could take a little less, but the last thing I want is another forced merge.

I'm not against letting people voluntarily move if they want with a free move over forced server merges. Free voluntary moves once a year or so. I don't understand why someone has to have the ability to keep swapping servers over and over till they find a match. You need time to meet folks. Random jumping won't help. Maybe the problem isn't the server, and those people will never be happy? Why ruin other servers because of a few?

Well, personally I don't understand why people don't want a server with a lot of people.

I feel like I'm reading some FFXIV fans posts in here. "No! I'll have to interact with people and compete with them! The horror!".

I thought one of the things that drew people toward Final Fantasy XI over the more modern "MMORPG" was the ability to meet people everywhere, the fact that it relied on randoms interactions and getting to know new people through them. I want to reach the depth of Caslte Oztroja and meet someone and team up with him. I want to find that new player in West Sarutabaruta and help him. I want to see people doing all the kinds of different activities, and not just spamming Ambu because it's impossible to gear for anything else due to the lack of activity.

What's the point of a server with 300 people? Those are literally 5 groups of people. Why not just play a co-op RPG at that point? I'm honestly confused. It's not like a server can't survive 1,200 players on average, as Asura and RoV-period already prove.

[kylani]

Well, personally I don't understand why people don't want a server with a lot of people.

I feel like I'm reading some FFXIV fans posts in here. "No! I'll have to interact with people and compete with them! The horror!".

I thought one of the things that drew people toward Final Fantasy XI over the more modern "MMORPG" was the ability to meet people everywhere, the fact that it relied on randoms interactions and getting to know new people through them. I want to reach the depth of Caslte Oztroja and meet someone and team up with him. I want to find that new player in West Sarutabaruta and help him. I want to see people doing all the kinds of different activities, and not just spamming Ambu because it's impossible to gear for anything else due to the lack of activity.

What's the point of a server with 300 people? Those are literally 5 groups of people. Why not just play a co-op RPG at that point? I'm honestly confused. It's not like a server can't survive 1,200 players on average, as Asura and RoV-period already prove.

I don't understand why you think 300 people is 5 groups of people, and I don't know why you assume I don't like playing with others. Do you know how many people are on every server? Why do people assume all servers are alike? And more importantly, why do you think everyone needs to be forced moved vs. being offered the choice of moving? Why is your opinion more important than anyone else?

Every night when I log in, I see plenty of people and see plenty of shouts for groups. I talk to friends, help folks who ask, even strangers shouting for a crafter. What do you do for your server?

[Zumi]

Since its free for the next couple of weeks, just logged in and it is a ghost town, 500 people with most of them afk bazzaring stuff. They do need to merge the servers or something this is pretty sad. Checked about 7 of my random LS and one of them had 2 people the rest were empty.

[Jin_Uzuki]

I don't understand why you think 300 people is 5 groups of people,

Well, if there are 300 people, half of them are going to be AFK/Bazaar, you aren't left with much.


and I don't know why you assume I don't like playing with others.

I dunno, I read you would even prefer less players if you could, so uh...

I mean, it's not like even the most popular servers are exploding with players.


And more importantly, why do you think everyone needs to be forced moved vs. being offered the choice of moving? Why is your opinion more important than anyone else?

If they let me the choice to move for FREE I think I would take it, but I'm not gonna pay 20€ on the top of a subs to... play a MMORPG again? uh?

Bedside, why do I need to move, lose all the people I've know, to play a MMROPG because some people think they are playing FFXI: My private space edition?

Last time I checked this was advertised as a Massive Multiplayer Online Game.


Every night when I log in, I see plenty of people and see plenty of shouts for groups. I talk to friends, help folks who ask, even strangers shouting for a crafter. What do you do for your server?

Well, congratulation, Fenrir is an healthy status I guess.
As for what I do? I generally try to help as much as I can, especially returning since a lot of "gear up" events like Skirmish/Vagary/Delve aren't done in shouts/en masse anymore and it's hard to do even Escha T1 for them.

Other than that?

https://i.imgur.com/35tHAUd.jpg

Sometimes, it's hard to get even an Ambu group going on. :< Shouts for anything but CP parties are rare.

I'm not trying to hate on my Server, there are a lot of great people on Sylph (a lot of them stopped playing since ironically not too much to do) and I'm still having plenty of fun when things get going, but it's a fact that the playerbase is slowly, but surely, diminishing.

[kylani]

Well, if there are 300 people, half of them are going to be AFK/Bazaar, you aren't left with much.



I dunno, I read you would even prefer less players if you could, so uh...

I mean, it's not like even the most popular servers are exploding with players.



If they let me the choice to move for FREE I think I would take it, but I'm not gonna pay 20€ on the top of a subs to... play a MMORPG again? uh?

Bedside, why do I need to move, lose all the people I've know, to play a MMROPG because some people think they are playing FFXI: My private space edition?

Last time I checked this was advertised as a Massive Multiplayer Online Game.



Well, congratulation, Fenrir is an healthy status I guess.
As for what I do? I generally try to help as much as I can, especially returning since a lot of "gear up" events like Skirmish/Vagary/Delve aren't done in shouts/en masse anymore and it's hard to do even Escha T1 for them.

Other than that?

https://i.imgur.com/35tHAUd.jpg

Sometimes, it's hard to get even an Ambu group going on. :< Shouts for anything but CP parties are rare.

I'm not trying to hate on my Server, there are a lot of great people on Sylph (a lot of them stopped playing since ironically not too much to do) and I'm still having plenty of fun when things get going, but it's a fact that the playerbase is slowly, but surely, diminishing.

I checked last night and 500+ were on Fenrir. I seriously doubt half of those were bazaars, but even if they were 250 does not seem like a private server to me. Do you really have to have 1200 people online to consider this an MMO? How many can you group with at a time?

Just because I could take less congestion doesn't mean I don't like to play with others. I'm just not fond of queuing and hunting for camps. Things are nice now. I run into congestion often enough, but it's so much better than the old days when we fought for camps, gods, dynamis, etc. Don't get me wrong. I loved the old days, but it wasn't all sunshine and roses then either. You waited for most everything. I feel like some folks think pure numbers will make them happy when they need good people willing to start and join groups.

I'm sorry you're not happy on your server, but I think it's wrong to mess with all servers because you want more people and would rather force everyone to merge than move yourself. MMO doesn't mean everyone needs to be forced to move because you want them to. It means a lot of people get to have fun together. If SE gave out free transfers, the people you know could move with you for free too.

It seems like if some servers were too small, SE would want to shut them down to save money, so maybe they'll merge a few smaller servers. I don't want mine to be merged.

[Immortta]

250~500 online is pretty bad for a MMO like FFXI, they really need server merge.

[Vae]

Even with however many people are currently on, always half of them are inaccessible.

If you were to take 1000 people online, half immediately are 2boxes/triboxes/pocket whm&geo/afk's, then another half of the remaining are jp (varies by server etc), so at any given time a person trying to accomplish something has a really slim chance of doing it.

Merges are STILL NOT THE ANSWER, I hate to be basically the only voice of reason on this, but seriously, merges, only create problems. What there actually needs to be is transfer fee negation. The ability to play on a deserted server, to do the things that you want to be alone for, and the ability to join a real server for "content".

Nothing would be better, than logging in to a dead server, and doing Ambuscade/dynamis/trails/farming/etc but then you have no chance of getting AHable gear/clears/endgame. And vice versa. Being able to wake up and log into dead server and farm, then log into real server when you want to do content would be absolutely perfect, hence, will never happen.

Merges just piss everyone off, and give you twice as many afk and undesirables.... You think that if your dead server merges with another dead server, shouts will suddenly spring up... sorry, it won't happen.

[Diavolo]

MMO doesn't mean everyone needs to be forced to move because you want them to. It means a lot of people get to have fun together. If SE gave out free transfers, the people you know could move with you for free too.

That's right, emphasis on "a lot" and "together." ;)



If you were to take 1000 people online, half immediately are 2boxes/triboxes/pocket whm&geo/afk's, then another half of the remaining are jp (varies by server etc), so at any given time a person trying to accomplish something has a really slim chance of doing it.

Merges are STILL NOT THE ANSWER, I hate to be basically the only voice of reason on this, but seriously, merges, only create problems. What there actually needs to be is transfer fee negation. The ability to play on a deserted server, to do the things that you want to be alone for, and the ability to join a real server for "content".

Asura is almost always above 1,000 accounts online, sometimes getting up over 1,400 at peak hours, at least when I've checked, and yes, even with that many people online half the accounts are still idle in towns, but you're simply wrong to imply merging servers wouldn't bring about more activity. Create a mule on Asura and that $1 will show you just how different things are from one server to the next. The higher population makes a world of difference in an MMORPG like this.

As for playing on deserted servers... sorry, but that's not the voice of reason, that's the voice of laziness and fear if you ask me. Competition drives us to be better. Too much competition at a popular farming spot? Send them a tell, make a new friend, grow together, or maybe improve your methods for farming your materials. Better yet, use it as a chance to explore the world for a different way of making some gil. This is how things worked back when we had thousands of players online at all times with people in every zone and we were all better for it.

[Seriha]

I understand congestion fears, truly. However, I'm not sold on that being the sole reason to not unite people. Keep in mind, XI lacks a lot of the convenient features of more recent MMOs like better matchmaking tools and cross-server interactions. Since these are probably off the table due to spaghetti code and all that, it's why I jumped directly to the free transfer model. A player really looking to make it work would then be able to freely roam while taking advantage of sites like this or others to help find similarly minded players. And while you could say they can do that now, the real sting is dropping the money to find things just didn't really work. Someone might have the tolerance for this once or twice, but not everyone. I'm simply against paid transfers because Rift spoiled me in this regard years ago, by both abolishing them and allowing someone to freely jump servers whenever without actually changing their home server. And if this is truly a big money angle from SE in XI's current environment, I'd almost be inclined to call it shady.

Anyway, congestion issues can be fixed. They just have to try. Not enough Apex camps? Make some more and with mobs people will fight. Lord knows a vast chunk of Adoulin is going majorly unused. Figure out something with the Legion zones where the retired servers can be retasked to handle the greater load. Double or triple the various VW pop spots so campaigns like this don't wind up so crowded. What do you really want after that? Or is it more, "Someone's gonna come and kill my money making!" kind of fear? Because I'd argue this gil/augment economy probably isn't the best possible endgame we could be working with, especially with Skirmish being out of the popularity loop.

[BBWallace]

People won't be happy till this game is dead.

[Amalon]

I'm seeing alot of arguments just skimming over all the posts here, and valid points brought up on all sides concerning the drop in population of alot of the servers. Simple fact of the matter here now is that something does need to get done whether its a server merge, or either giving everyone a one time free transfer to move to another server or just removing the world transfer fee.

I only play now during the free log in campaigns simply because my server Quetzalcoatl is literally dead, there was only about 265 people on that server when I checked during this last free log in campaign. When I stopped playing there was less than 1000 people left on the server and no one did shouts for anything anymore its literally been dead for about a year and a half to 2 years now. I can remember way back when there was over 3000, 4000, and 5000 players on the server yea sometimes things got a bit laggy in busier areas but it was always very active. From what I've been seeing there is alot of servers now that have basicly died out and lots of people like me that have or are looking at stopping playing because of it and feeling tht we shouldn't have to pay to transfer from a dead server.

Personally i think if something isn't going to get done about a server merge or removing the fee to do world transfers then Square Enix should just be shutting the entire game down. It was a great game but its become a shadow of its former glory!!

[Diavolo]

I wonder how much more willing the dev team would be to undergo another round of server merges if they were able to delete characters that failed to meet certain criteria beforehand, such as having accumulated X amount of playtime and having been active at least once in the last year. I imagine the headache caused by the large scale character renaming process associated with a merge would be much easier to bear if that were to happen.

[lllen]

Having survived one server merge, Hades to Cerberus it was't so bad, it was nice to see couple thousand + people playing, big headache was the dynamis schedule...remember those. I immigrated to Asura end of March, Cerberus would have 250-300 people listed, you would go to Jueno and see 2 people moving...use to be lag city. I made mules and played on several servers before going to Asura. $1 for a test run was easy way to see what is going on. I play solo now, had my fill of 7 days a week every evening end game runs (but I'll never forget the fun and drudgery of getting Dio), most of my friends were young and now have families (I'm old) so they are no longer playing. But their is a warm fuzzy feeling see people running around everywhere, even in Bastok.

The dynamics of the game has changed, mainly because the players as a whole have grown up playing this game, rl has a way of interfering few have the time to be in game for hours. I agree a merge would be a good thing, but even better would be for SE to have a free transfer period and let people readjust the servers, self leveling you might say. Only one problem, what if only 50 people left on server...do you force them to move or automatically move them. I can see other problems with free transfers so not sure what the best answer is at the moment. But I do think something needs to be done.

Just thought of another old time thing, remember when you couldn't find a camp in the dunes.

[Amalon]

One thing i have thought about with doing free world transfers is that I think the world transfer system is set up for both FF11 and FF14 because both games are run through the square enix account management.

One idea that had gotten formed on another thread I had started was to do some type of expansion/add-on/quest idea where you could go back and forth between FF11 and FF14 and either your character from the one game gets converted to the equivalent it would be on the other game or you have a character made for both games and can switch to that character while in a lobby that is set up in between the 2 games. That could improve the server populations for FF11 by people wanting to return to FF11 to play a little there as well as players that are currently on FF14 that have never played FF11 to explore and play FF11.

[Limecat]

One idea that had gotten formed on another thread I had started was to do some type of expansion/add-on/quest idea where you could go back and forth between FF11 and FF14

That was actually one of the early ideas SE was kicking around during the 1.x days, a way to link your new XIV character/account to your XI one so that you could basically walk through a shining door in either game to transition to the other one. In the end they gave up on it as being far too complex to mess with, to say nothing of oddities arising from trying to launch two different engines from inside one unified UI. Would have been pretty cool if it could have been pulled off. Maybe we'll get lucky and someday they'll have an opt-in rebuild of the game that uses XIV's engine/UI at least.

[Amalon]

That was actually one of the early ideas SE was kicking around during the 1.x days, a way to link your new XIV character/account to your XI one so that you could basically walk through a shining door in either game to transition to the other one. In the end they gave up on it as being far too complex to mess with, to say nothing of oddities arising from trying to launch two different engines from inside one unified UI. Would have been pretty cool if it could have been pulled off. Maybe we'll get lucky and someday they'll have an opt-in rebuild of the game that uses XIV's engine/UI at least.

Thinking about it now I think I recall something about that from back then, but if they set up a lobby for the transition where you basicly log out from the one then log into the other game, it would be similar to doing stuff through the mog station and selecting something like add crysta and it switches you over to the Square Enix account management page to do it.

[OmnysValefor]

That was actually one of the early ideas SE was kicking around during the 1.x days, a way to link your new XIV character/account to your XI one so that you could basically walk through a shining door in either game to transition to the other one.

I've never heard anything like this. Any source?

As a one-way passage, it could easily work. As a two-way door, problems would be had. For instance, XIV wouldn't have to use XI character models, they could just use XIV character-creator presets that closely matched XI models.

It can't be any more than cosmetic similarity of characters, as the gear and mechanics in XIV have always worked very different from XI (fulltiming a set, vs macroing in pieces)