Classic Server

What happened to the poll? Assuming it was removed?

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Originally Posted by PlumbGame

What happened to the poll? Assuming it was removed?

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I removed it because people were trolling it with fake celebrity names. Just going to have to hope we can get a dev response anyway.

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Originally Posted by PlumbGame

Lol, Alhanelem still going strong that anyone disagreeing with him is personally attacking him I see.

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Actually, you're the one who's doing that, not me. You've branded anyone who disagrees you as wrong. I, on the contrary, have not done that. I have not declared anyone disagreeing with me in this thread as personally attacking me. Not once in this thread. Where you're getting that impression, I have no idea.

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Originally Posted by Natasha

I removed it because people were trolling it with fake celebrity names. Just going to have to hope we can get a dev response anyway.

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Hmm, that sucks, hopefully we will get something. Wouldn't get our hopes up sadly.

If they made one oldschool server, would all the current casuals quit? no.... So any of them to even come in here blabbing is hilarious. I also find it so funny that all these haters seem to have a full knowledge of SE's financial situation and love to tell us how it isn't possible because of this or that, like they know what they're talking about, no they're just shooting shit out cause they love to argue. Just give us the option to play the old game that we loved.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Actually, you're the one who's doing that, not me. You've branded anyone who disagrees you as wrong. I, on the contrary, have not done that. I have not declared anyone disagreeing with me in this thread as personally attacking me. Not once in this thread. Where you're getting that impression, I have no idea.

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I know me and you have had our disagreements in the past but I just made this exact point in the other thread about bringing back classic servers. I have been trying to be nice about it but this is one of the main reasons I have not been joining the debate on these threads.

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Originally Posted by mattkoko

I know me and you have had our disagreements in the past but I just made this exact point in the other thread about bringing back classic servers. I have been trying to be nice about it but this is one of the main reasons I have not been joining the debate on these threads.

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Most people that are against the idea of a classic server aren't basing their reasoning on logic or evidence. They're assuming a classic server wouldn't work because of how they feel about it. Whenever I mention the potential success of a classic server, my reasoning is based on some sort of established precedent, along with an article to substantiate my claims. For example...

1. "A classic server wouldn't be successful in today's market."

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...l=1#post524499

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...819#post524819

Lineage 2 found great success when adding subscription-based classic servers, more than anyone could've hoped. They only planned on having one, but ended up adding three due to popularity. Now they're expecting multiple international classic servers, doubling that number from three to six, and receiving tons of hype from the international community.

2. "It's just nostalgia. Nobody would be interested that type of gameplay anymore."

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...l=1#post525189

Dragon Quest X is identical in nearly every aspect to how this game used to play, right down to grinding experience in camps with other players. They've already surpassed the one million sales mark, and just recently, 3DS shipments had to be postponed because of how many players were logging on simultaneously.

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Originally Posted by nekrothing

Most people that are against the idea of a classic server aren't basing their reasoning on logic or evidence. They're assuming a classic server wouldn't work because of how they feel about it. Whenever I mention the potential success of a classic server, my reasoning is based on some sort of established precedent, along with an article to substantiate my claims. For example...

1. "A classic server wouldn't be successful in today's market."

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...l=1#post524499

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...819#post524819

Lineage 2 found great success when adding subscription-based classic servers, more than anyone could've hoped. They only planned on having one, but ended up adding three due to popularity. Now they're expecting multiple international classic servers, doubling that number from three to six, and receiving tons of hype from the international community.

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You have to stop making this apples to oranges comparison. Every MMORPG is different. Lineage 2 is not equal to Final Fantasy 11. Just because they had a player base interested in their classic server doesn't mean this game will too.

Further, can classic Lineage 2 run on small server populations? Would the gameplay work as well on a population of 500 as it would on a population of 3000? Because FFXI sure can't.

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2. "It's just nostalgia. Nobody would be interested that type of gameplay anymore."

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...l=1#post525189

Dragon Quest X is identical in nearly every aspect to how this game used to play, right down to grinding experience in camps with other players. They've already surpassed the one million sales mark, and just recently, 3DS shipments had to be postponed because of how many players were logging on simultaneously.

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Dragon Quest 10 has high subscription numbers for the same reason classic FFXI had high subscription numbers: it's new. I guarantee you that in 10 years its numbers won't be anywhere near where it is now.

This cry for a classic server is a lot like a pyramid scheme--it relies on unrealistically optimistic projections. A pyramid scheme will make some grandiose claim like "If you send this E-Mail out to 8,000 people and they all send you $5, that's $40,000 cash! But that's if everyone does it, so let's just assume a much more conservative 1 in 8 people will send the money! That's still $5,000 and you can do it over and over!" Except 1 in 8 people won't forward the stupid chain E-Mail; virtually nobody will.

And it's like that with this classic server idea. The proponents figure some bold estimate of 10% of existing players will move, plus it'll entice players who quit to return, and somehow you'll have huge numbers. But these are huge "ifs". We have, what, half a dozen proponents of this idea on this board? Classic FFXI required thousands of players to work. Average population at a given time was around 3,000 people. There's what, 17 active servers now? On a good day, you get 1,000 people online. That's 17,000 players total on a good day If you take the excessively optimistic projection of 10%, that's still only 1700 players, and I strongly doubt you'd get that. Even then, I'd bet you anything the novelty wears off quickly.

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Originally Posted by Zarchery

You have to stop making this apples to oranges comparison. Every MMORPG is different. Lineage 2 is not equal to Final Fantasy 11. Just because they had a player base interested in their classic server doesn't mean this game will too.

Further, can classic Lineage 2 run on small server populations? Would the gameplay work as well on a population of 500 as it would on a population of 3000? Because FFXI sure can't.

Dragon Quest 10 has high subscription numbers for the same reason classic FFXI had high subscription numbers: it's new. I guarantee you that in 10 years its numbers won't be anywhere near where it is now.

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I think you are missing the implication. He isn't saying it is guaranteed to work, because that would be silly. Everything in life has chance to fail. What do you base you ideas off though? When trying to argue ideas, you tend to base it off someone else success. Why do you think there is so many WoW clones? Why do you think there is also WoW clones that fail? What do you suppose people for the idea would base there opinions off of? Do you hope they come into this thread, say they want it, and anyone can F off (almost similar to what the people say who are against it)? No, they provide concrete evidence of other games success rates for said things that supposedly no one wants. Does it mean it will work? Not necessarily, but you need some grounds to base the idea that this could be successful. He also clearly pointed out his intention in the beginning of his post with provided evidence, while again, every single person that has been against the idea so far hasn't provided anything valid against the idea or anything at all to support there claims (which isn't necessarily their burden of proof, but there is some strong opinions against this idea, you would think there would be more support than just their opinion). That is more-or-less where he is going with his post.

Besides trying to clarify what I felt he is trying to say, that really is what it comes down to, is how big can you get a pop on these servers, and sadly, there is no way to get accurate results from these forums. FFXI (imo) would not be the same if only a pop of 500 would to play on a server like this, hell, even a pop of what most the servers currently see I don't think would be very successful. That being said, that is another reason there is links to other companies doing such things to show that it is possible. I know from my own experience playing on EQ's progression servers that the pop was vastly larger on these servers vs a normal server. Also note that EQ is older than FFXI and they had a 4k+ pop of users online almost 24/7, actually I think it was even higher, so they had to open up a new server just to compensate for the overflow.

Ford released a mustang that looked like a classic mustang, therefor everyone will buy a classic honda civic.

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Originally Posted by FrankReynolds

Ford released a mustang that looked like a classic mustang, therefor everyone will buy a classic honda civic.

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Relevance right here.

Just because one classic remake is done and works doesn't mean that another would do the same when built around a different design and meant for a different group of people.

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Originally Posted by Demonjustin

Just because one classic remake is done and works doesn't mean that another would do the same when built around a different design and meant for a different group of people.

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People really wonder why I keep telling others to l2read. This is a prime example right here. No one is claiming some kind of guarantee that it will work, we use examples of other companies success etc blah blah blah repeat repeat repeat X Y Z 12345679 pi 22.

It's not a problem with reading so much as I was pointing out the relevance of the remark due to the fact that your comment seemed to more or less miss the point behind the remark. I understand what you're doing, I understand why you're doing it. I don't have any interest in a classic server but I wouldn't care if they added one, I don't think it'll work but I'm not going to oppose it when I have no reason to either. As a result, I honestly haven't read most of this thread, I just wanted to point out what was seemingly missed in the remark, nothing more.

I wonder if a server dedicated to a more classic style (kinda like a role-play designated server) wouldn't be as sufficient as a classic server rolled back to some point in time?

I'm not sure SE can go back to the classic server, but I feel like you can do everything that you could in the past today. The difference is the player base isn't of the same mindset, and it's harder to find linkshells/parties that want to play old style.

If there were a designated server for those who prefer grouping/classic style of play, perhaps that would help like minded people find each other more easily.

I love how FFXI has changed and feel it needed to, but it doesn't mean I don't miss the old style of play generally. I can remember coming back after Abyssea and having a blast grouping with some friends, only to find out the new way to exp was to book burn, and folks would run you over if you didn't join. We hated book burning, and still exp'd the old way, just found camps that weren't book burning camps. It was disappointing to have to miss some of our favorite old camps, but we adjusted and still had fun and had new content. Level sync was fantastic for us.

I won't auto-level a job in Abyssea, but when I first came back, I leveled my RDM because a friend took me and caught me up so I could do the end game stuff. For those who want that, I think the changes have been great. I don't have to do things I don't care about doing. I still love a lot of other additions. I feel I can still play my way, except that it is difficult to find people who WANT to do the old group content the way it was intended.

Outside of more options making most folks take the easiest path (and thus making linkshells/grouping less necessary at lower levels), I feel like having more options is a good thing. If you have friends to level with, I don't see how the current setup is so different from the past. Exp is a lot easier, but it still takes time leveling the old fashioned way. In many cases you can choose not to use the newer things you don't like. I enjoyed old fashioned skill up parties, hunting for keys, level breaks, etc with friends, and nothing stops me from doing it today outside of not having anyone who wants to do it or needs help doing it.

If being on a classic server is to force folks to play the old way, I can see some doing joining, but it's hard to imagine most not preferring some of the wonderful options that have been added.

I could see going to a server more dedicated to 'role playing/ old style play', but much as I loved ffxi nostalgically, I can't imagine going back to the game exactly as it was when I started or at a given point along the way. There is so much great content to enjoy now. Where would 'Classic' stop, exactly? And what specifically could you do in the classic server that you couldn't do today if you could find like minded folks? I know it takes more exp to level, and some things like COP have been made easier, but they were made easier several times, which version is the 'classic version?' I thought Cop was exceptional as it was, but I think more folks have enjoyed it now that it's easier to complete, and it would be a shame for folks not to be able to experience the wonderful story.

Just my thoughts.

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Originally Posted by Demonjustin

It's not a problem with reading so much as I was pointing out the relevance of the remark due to the fact that your comment seemed to more or less miss the point behind the remark. I understand what you're doing, I understand why you're doing it. I don't have any interest in a classic server but I wouldn't care if they added one, I don't think it'll work but I'm not going to oppose it when I have no reason to either. As a result, I honestly haven't read most of this thread, I just wanted to point out what was seemingly missed in the remark, nothing more.

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There was nothing missed by the remark. The troll came in here trying to compare apples to oranges. It's like asking if tbell would be successful with a classic burrito just because McDonalds was successful with a classic hamburger. Neither have anything to do with video games. Let alone the horrible comparison considering many people do buy/own "classic" honda civics.

My apologies.

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Originally Posted by Demonjustin

My apologies.

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Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong. All you did was participate in the convo. The guy was just trying to troll. Even though I do love current FFXI, I also strongly support this idea, one reason I sometimes get so heated in the discussion. So it's just nothing more that drives me nuts than comments like his without fully understanding what people like me may be getting at. Well, maybe he does, he just felt it was necessary to try and be a smartass.

I apologize for sometimes coming off as rude.

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Originally Posted by Zarchery

Even then, I'd bet you anything the novelty wears off quickly.

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Your conjecture was very interesting, thank you.

Now, if you would be so kind as to validate your claims with sources.

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Originally Posted by Demonjustin

Just because one classic remake is done and works doesn't mean that another would do the same when built around a different design and meant for a different group of people.

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Except as I have explained several times in this thread, everquest. Everquest is 1. older than ffxi 2. built around the same group centric design (you need to party to level their too and similar style endgame) 3. has a popular semi-classic progression server that raised profits 4. has a very large private server that is intent on offering a completely classic experience (project 1999) that has generally about a thousand people on at a time. Everquest is in a very similar situation to ffxi and it has shown that with this type of game a classic server can be a success. Its not apples to oranges.

That being said, as plumb said theres no guarantee, its just showing that these things do work and that these are things that people do want.

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Originally Posted by PlumbGame

I apologize for sometimes coming off as rude.

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Thank you for acknowledging this. It's been very unpleasant reading your responses to my and others' posts. Vanilla.

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Originally Posted by detlef

Thank you for acknowledging this. It's been very unpleasant reading your responses to my and others' posts. Vanilla.

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Go vanilla yourself.

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Originally Posted by nekrothing

Your conjecture was very interesting, thank you.

Now, if you would be so kind as to validate your claims with sources.

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You want me to cite sources to support a purely hypothetical thing that never actually happened?

We're all conjecturing here, difference is that I don't pretend mine is backed by facts. You keep saying "Classic FFXI would work because Classic Lineage worked". Which makes no sense. Lineage != Final Fantasy 11. It's like... Sex and the City was a hugely popular TV show. Then it went off the air. Two knockoff series then followed--Lipstick Jungle and Cashmere Mafia. Both failed miserably. But your mode of thinking dictates that they should have succeeded, because Sex and the City was popular.

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Originally Posted by Zarchery

You want me to cite sources to support a purely hypothetical thing that never actually happened?

We're all conjecturing here, difference is that I don't pretend mine is backed by facts. You keep saying "Classic FFXI would work because Classic Lineage worked". Which makes no sense. Lineage != Final Fantasy 11. It's like... Sex and the City was a hugely popular TV show. Then it went off the air. Two knockoff series then followed--Lipstick Jungle and Cashmere Mafia. Both failed miserably. But your mode of thinking dictates that they should have succeeded, because Sex and the City was popular.

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Again, this is faulty logic when you use a simile of something of no relevance. You would of been better comparing WoW knock offs that failed, which is also an entirely different reasoning. It isn't just Lineage that has been pointed out in these threads also, there has been several different success stories. One of which is almost similar in all aspects except the job system which is EQ. There is also a "more probable than not" basis when you look at supporting evidence of the facts, which he is saying that he has provided. He is basically asking what supporting evidence do you guys have to validate the supposed failures that exist with something like this. There hasn't been anything provided, so how can we determine based off of known information that it would fail, because the known information that has been provided shows that something like this would succeed rather than not. That's to not say that it would, but like I said, "more probable than not".

No, the known information he has shown was that "something like this" worked, in the same way that "something like Cashmere Mafia" worked, but Cashmere Mafia didn't.

The assertion "this other MMORPG with a classic server worked so every MMORPG with a classic server will likely work" is exactly as faulty as "this TV show about women in the city living glamorous lives worked so every TV show about women in the city with glamorous lives will likely work".

There's also probable evidence that it would fail if you look at 1) the low server populations we have now and 2) the even lower server populations on the private servers which fulfill this need.

I'd like them to put in a classic server so it could fail and everyone could stop asking for it.

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Originally Posted by Zarchery

No, the known information he has shown was that "something like this" worked, in the same way that "something like Cashmere Mafia" worked, but Cashmere Mafia didn't.

The assertion "this other MMORPG with a classic server worked so every MMORPG with a classic server will likely work" is exactly as faulty as "this TV show about women in the city living glamorous lives worked so every TV show about women in the city with glamorous lives will likely work".

There's also probable evidence that it would fail if you look at 1) the low server populations we have now and 2) the even lower server populations on the private servers which fulfill this need.

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Actually it's not, you compared a tv series to a game. You also treat it like FFXI would be recreating Linage, when it is recreating FFXI. Your reference is a TV show copying another TV show.

That isn't probable evidence. Lower pop for current FFXI doesn't indicate any failure of past FFXI, matter of fact, the eras suggest had pops of 3k+ which is even more probable than not evidence of success. The private servers have already been pointed out, but I'll point out the most again. First, private servers aren't even suppose to be mentioned here, let alone on most sites aren't aloud to be mentioned, removing a vast amount of population possibly interested not even knowing of it's existence. 2nd, people want an SE handled classic server, not a third party. Third, the stability of said private servers is usually garbage, and usually can't hand X amount of people in the server, let alone X amount of people in 1 zone unless they fork out hefty amount of money which usually isn't the case, not just for XI, but most private servers for anything. Fourth, the functionality is garbage of said server, with many aspects hard coded not being able to be removed yet, or ever. Things like pathing don't even work properly, let alone many of the JA/Skills/Spells etc. I could keep going, but to use any XI private server as a basis for your argument is outrageous and kind of insulting. None-the-less, if we were to talk about how much people do love nostalgia, look at project 1999 for EQ which is almost as good as it gets to an exact replica (while some aspects may need some work), and has a higher pop than the live servers hit in 1999. Anyways, just saying, if you are going to compare a private server, at least use one that isn't garbage, and those don't exist, or are even close to replicating the classic era of FFXI. I've even played on one religiously, and although fun, was still so far away it was kind of deteriorating to me ever thinking a private server will hit such capabilities for FFXI.

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Originally Posted by Olor

I'd like them to put in a classic server so it could fail and everyone could stop asking for it.

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Like the OP then! ^^

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Originally Posted by Zarchery

You want me to cite sources to support a purely hypothetical thing that never actually happened?

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I'm providing a logical basis for my reasoning based on empirical evidence. Your personal beliefs are the basis for your conjecture, which are neither rational nor valid.

If you're going to suggest that a classic server won't be successful, I'm going to need more than "because I said so, here are some hypothetical examples I made up." Without validating your claims by citing relevant sources to establish a logical basis for your reasoning, your argument has no solid foundation to stand on.

On another note, I would like to know server costs if anyone happens to have this info on hand or know get hosting service. Let us try take some costs into account and what better way to start then by assuming a server like this is going to take up obvious costs of running it. Without getting into detail of what SEs supposed resources are or limitations, I would like to know what we may be looking at for a number of subs active on a server like this to alone just cover the costs of flipping a switch and just letting it run. Thanks ahead of time if someone can find some of this info, I know I could just google it and try and find something, but I seem to not be finding any concrete information. Can't believe I just failed at googling.

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Originally Posted by Olor

I'd like them to put in a classic server so it could fail and everyone could stop asking for it.

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Alright, let's use your logic with a topic you care about. I have seen the bst thread. Using your logic, I am going to say, I hope they give you new pets and hope they fail just so you can stop asking for new pets. Better yet, let's just erase the job all together. That will shut them up.

Now of course I don't actually wish that. The point is the people that are for a classic server are obviously passionate about it. And they should be allowed to express their interest, just like you are allowed to express your interest with the improvements on bst. It is one thing to debate and disagree but to wish something fails is just selfish. Personally speaking, I probably would not use the classic server if it ever got put up and I have my reasons.

Whether it succeeds or not is another story. I personally think it wouldn't succeed and again, I have my reasons for that which I will not express, mainly because I share my reasoning with a couple of other points both with others as well as some of my own in previous posts. We have talked circles about it through out this thread and the other thread. but I am also open to the fact that I could end up being wrong. But to hope it fails just so you can prove a point? Grow up.

With that said, I hope they make a classic server and hope it succeeds, because it will both shut everyone up, and so everyone would be happy. Just joking about the shutting everyone up part. Figured I would try to lighten the mood. But hey, I am all for making everyone happy. The more people they make happy, the more money they bring in, meaning more opportunities to create better content and make bst a better job just to shut the bsts up. Jk again. Okay this is where I shut up :D.

how about instead of an outright classic server, they make like a hybrid server, which would include level 75 cap and no abyssea but all the expansions before that up to wotg and the 3 mini expansions. but it would still include increased rates of xp gain so people can still low man xp instead of 6 man group onry! fighting eps as a duo group would still net a fair bit of xp this way! no trusts, let people group again, no fov, as we dont really want those real fast 18 man alliences. maybe keep the home point warps and some other quality of life adjustments. maybe keep level sync, that happened way before abyssea anyway. id say put the cop level caps back otherwise everyone would just low man them at later levels, keep the challenge. i'd like them to reverse the mpk patch but thats just me!

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Originally Posted by PlumbGame

Relevance right here.

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A Ford Mustang is about as relevant to FFXI as that other game you linked to, in that it is not relevant at all. That was the point. I'm all for your classic server, but your argument is horrible.

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Originally Posted by FrankReynolds

A Ford Mustang is about as relevant to FFXI as that other game you linked to, in that it is not relevant at all. That was the point. I'm all for your classic server, but your argument is horrible.

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A Ford Mustang is is about as relevant to FFXI as the other game that was linked to? Lmao

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Originally Posted by PlumbGame

A Ford Mustang is is about as relevant to FFXI as the other game that was linked to? Lmao

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Yes, I'm not the first one to point it out either. I just found my way more amusing. Glad you liked it. :)

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Originally Posted by FrankReynolds

Yes, I'm not the first one to point it out either. I just found my way more amusing. Glad you liked it. :)

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Not only did I like it, but I find you amusing in general. Thanks for the laughs.

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Originally Posted by mattkoko

Alright, let's use your logic with a topic you care about. I have seen the bst thread. Using your logic, I am going to say, I hope they give you new pets and hope they fail just so you can stop asking for new pets. Better yet, let's just erase the job all together. That will shut them up.

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That doesn't make any sense. At all.

I say this because, frankly, if people cannot get even 3 people on any given server together who want to do content the old way, there is ZERO chance that a "classic" server would succeed. Since I came back to the game I've seen people start 'classic' shells etc and none of them last. If people can't find people who want to play like that on existing servers it makes no sense to spend the dev time and money on a classic server that will not have enough players to work anyway.

Asking for fixes to a job is nothing like asking for a special server. Improvements to BST help every player in the game if they should so choose to use BST. Having a classic server would be a waste of resources. Also there are far more BSTs than people who want to grind tediously through 10 year old content.

There is currently at this time of posting, more likes for a classic server than your bst got screwed thread. Which is also higher than 3. There is also fundamental issues with "classic" LS. First, and most importantly. It is 100% impossible to recreate the classic experience no matter how hard you try. Though the content exists, there has been changes to the game that cannot be removed or reverted, and if they could, I'm assuming it actually may solve a lot of the issues since people could come and go if they want, but they cant. There is also this human flaw to do what everyone else is doing / take the easier route. If the people around you aren't forced into doing the exact same thing, why would you, rather if there was an easier route, why not take it. In this case though, why would people then play on a "classic" server vs just playing on the normal server then. It's mostly the mentality that X person next to you in port jeuno didn't have an easier route, they had to go through the same crap you had to go through and experience, almost making the "grind" more worthwhile, rather then just hopping back onto the normal servers and just playing solo. That is how I view it at least when I view people trying to create the classic experience on a normal server.

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Originally Posted by Olor

I'd like them to put in a classic server so it could fail and everyone could stop asking for it.

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THIS!

I wish I could Like your post 1000 times. A classic server is such a horrible idea, I've been playing since USA launch (technically before US launch) and FFXI is now 100x better than it used to be. Sure, I have fond memories of alliances doing things together. However, I didn't block out the HOURS upon HOURS of waiting just to do a 1 hour run. I don't miss having to level a job I didn't want to play as just because my preferred job wasn't needed in any party to do anything at all, plus since nothing was soloable. I don't miss how an alliance would work together in a Dynamis run just to make the relic weapon for 1 person while the rest just lotted over relic gear, which many times was already promised to a LS owner's friend, so most times you didn't even get anything for your work in Dynamis. I don't miss having to spend a ton of time gathering a party together only to have 1-2 people quit right after starting cause "this took too long to get started" or "I have to go to work/school now." I don't miss having to leave my mule out in Rolanberry fields just cause of the jeuno tax. I don't miss having to camp a NM for hours only to have people claim it the millisecond it pops, and this happening 10 times before finally getting the claim and not having the item drop cause of the lower treaure hunter, if TH was even part of the equation. I don't miss having to switch to BLM cause WHM couldn't have warp due to the lvl75 cap. I don't miss have CoP areas reducing my hard earned level75 to lvl30. I WILL miss the ability to /DNC any job to make staying alive a realistic option when soloing. I don't miss Emperor Ring being the only option for quicker solo leveling. I don't miss the long wait between dynamis runs...See my point? We only remember the fun times, but we ignore the countless hours wasted to have that short period of fun, whereas now you can do whatever you want, whenever you want and without having to gather a billion people to do 1 thing.

However, most tend to forget the pointless hard times, so making this classic server is a good thing, so those that don't remember the hard times as they were, will have a chance to re-live it, realize how much it sucked and then come back to the improved ffxi. Of course they probably will find other reasons to complain about it, like saying that the classic server sucks cause most that left ffxi didn't come back, so now we have too few people...etc... lol

I can see a few problems with this.
First, what do we define as classic, and how do we go about doing so?
Pre abby? Pre Toau? Wotg? What about Adoulin content that's a part of the lore? Is cutting out large chunks of lore ok?
Is level sync classic? what about Fellow NPC's? And quality of life improvements such as those listed below, or uncapping promathia missions?
Is blue mage classic? What about geomancer and rune fencer? Scholar and dancer?
Would ranger be god again like it used to be? Or samurai the hot topic?

One you'd be setting the server back to before the december update of 2009. (Which was when fields of valor was added)
You'd be cutting out A LOT of content by doing that, Adoulin would have to be completely removed as there's no way Lv 75 players, even alliances couldn't roam through that zone in one piece. Either that or Adoulin would have to be scaled down, and mobs radically adjusted on this server to match that of either a scaling area like the original zones, or a 75 only region like Sea, because people will want to play a pack they paid 30-40$ for.

You'd also remove part of fellow NPC adjustments, quality of life improvements like movement speed, teleporting, WS adjustments, TP changes, gearsets, spells, job abilities and traits, hp and mp adjustments, avatars, mog wardrobe, mog case, RoE, and numerous other things, including half of the porter moogle. I'm not sure if campaign skillups would be in or out, I'd have to look through all the updates to find when they stopped it. And obviously relics would become scarce again, and mythics would be... mythical.

You'd also have to patch, update, and create content specifically for a 75 capped environment, this would double the workload for all future expansions as well, and you'd run into the same problems in the end: People don't want to do the same thing forever (Hell people in my old shell skipped sky 90% of the time, as well as dyna zones they didn't need), so you'd have to spend a lot of time creating new things for this server to keep the population, however big or small, happy.

And to even do this, you'd have to write a lengthy program to go through some tens of thousands of accounts of potential users, and possibly hundreds of thousands of characters for this server and prune all data relating to any gear, zone, or quest above 75 or related to any expansion data, then setup server transfers for those accounts, because a lot of people aren't going to want to lose their characters and start all over again, esp those who left because of abby. (I know a lot who did) But you'd have to be careful, people won't be happy if 75 or lower gear is stored in mog bags that will be removed and they lose it.

You'd then have to ensure server rollbacks didn't effect the client, because some video cards might stop working if rolled back to the old days (windows 8 platforms likely would). I know my geforce 600 series card has crashing issues with FFXI and high shadows when songs or spells go off. And players would have to run 2 seperate FFXI directories, one for mainstream (if they choose to play it too, not everyone will goto this server, so keeping in touch with friends would be essential) and one for the classic. This would be hard for some people who run FFXI on older PC's with limited space, or like me who just have limited HDD space (I run FFXI on my SSD), and could be impossible for PS2 users (Which is most of japan), though the 360 likely wouldn't be too hard once you programmed all of this into the viewer.

I don't believe FFXI has a skeleton crew, and it maybe the most profitable game in their history, but I don't know if Square is going to hire extra devs to make this server.
Would they charge extra to being on this server? What if only some characters per Id are there, and some on the main servers, do you pay full price for both? And would this interfere with the mainstream servers production and updates?

Because a lot of people likely won't move, I'm not sure entirely, if I would use the classic or not, my time is a lot more limited then it was in 2003 when I could play all day after work, so being able to login and go do the things I need or want to with my partner and not seek group in jeuno for 4 weeks just to get from lv 45-46 (I was a taru monk at the time), or watching pickup group after group fail to be promathia, or dynamis wipes because people don't know wtf they're doing anymore, and new players in FFXI proper don't have the skill sets needed to run in the old days.

I know a lot of people miss the old days, but I think a lot of people also forget how hard those days were.
After all, the number one complaint from almost everyone was: It took so long to do/get anywhere in FFXI. We'd be removing everything that made that easier, both the grind, and the travel, and get right back to where we started, with people leaving because of that.

As great as the community was back then, and the socialization, some things are best left to the pages of history.
This could be one of them.