Recently returned but having trouble getting into post 99 content, please advise ...

[Jin_Uzuki]

If someone(not me, you kept implying it's me that's having an issue, but it's not) have an issue with yells, then realistically, it will play a role when he makes a decision because people play the game for fun etc.

If couple of lines on a screen that only pop when you zone into town play a big role and remove every advantage a big server has, then, honestly, I don't know what to tell you.

[Afania]

If couple of lines on a screen that only pop when you zone into town play a big role and remove every advantage a big server has, then, honestly, I don't know what to tell you.

You kept mentioning this "advantage a big server has", how could I make you understand that for some people out there faster character progression/faster gil/easier gears/more PUG etc simply isn't what they play the game for.

[Diavolo]

You kept mentioning this "advantage a big server has", how could I make you understand that for some people out there faster character progression/faster gil/easier gears/more PUG etc simply isn't what they play the game for.

They don't have to in order to enjoy the benefits of a larger server.

[Afania]

They don't have to in order to enjoy the benefits of a larger server.

So what if someone pay $13 a month just to chat with 3 person on server, enjoys quiet server, hates politic talk in yell, and don't play the game to grind gears?

I mean, I'm talking in circles now. I support bigger server because I think it'd benefit more players as a whole. And in the end of day majority still > minority. But at least I'm well aware that nothing makes everyone happy, there will always be some of people out there that's not happy with server merge. Back then when FFXI had server merges, there were drama/unhappy people etc.

At least I'm aware of the fact that everyone is different and nothing is perfect, unlike some people in this discussion aren't, then just assume everyone will be happy ever after with merges.

I mean, my stance is, server merge is great, and some smaller server definitely needs merge. But I don't think is super big zomg kind of deal if it doesn't happen. There's always an option to transfer, after all.

[Diavolo]

So what if someone pay $13 a month just to chat with 3 person on server, enjoys quiet server, hates politic talk in yell, and don't play the game to grind gears?

Someone that doesn't care for the grind and hates political discussion in yells won't have much to worry about. Like one of my friends, they can hide in their mog house/garden when in town. If they're out of town, as they would be most of the time, they don't see yells. They just quieted the entire server with practically no effort. They could also, you know, download Discord or some other voice/chat service like a growing percentage of the player base and avoid FFXI altogether if they're only interested in chatting.

My American friend wanted to rip his hair out anytime politics came up in linkshells or party chats. He's put more time on Asura than I have since our move and he still has all his hair, so there's that.

But at least I'm well aware that nothing makes everyone happy

Bingo. Now, do you see how this favors the argument of pushing for transfers/merges and eliminating quiet servers when we agree that bigger is better?

If your vision for a game is to have thousands of players come together and tackle common goals, then build it. If your vision for the game then changes and makes it far more accessible, then go ahead and apply those changes, too. What we're stuck in now, however, is some half-measure where the game appears to be trying to cater to both the casual gamer and the hardcore gamer - trying to make everyone happy - while also abandoning a core design principle, one that defines the MMORPG genre. This not only results in worlds of distinctly different sizes separated by $18 paywalls, but also complicates the creation and management of content, not something you want to impose onto a skeleton crew of a development team.

I'd like to be proven wrong, but continuing to cater to smaller and ever decreasing population sizes signifies that they are aware of the consequences and don't want to stem to tide. They have FF14, after all. If you're fine with this and don't much care for the long term prospects of the game then all is well. If you want to see the game carry on for a few more years I wouldn't sit idly by while the server sizes continue to shrink. Sooner or later the comfort you find on a server with 250-300 accounts will give way to a struggling economy as the JP players realize the NA/EU crowd isn't contributing their fair share to make it all work, in effect bringing the 24/7 persistent world to a standstill.

there will always be some of people out there that's not happy with server merge. Back then when FFXI had server merges, there were drama/unhappy people etc.

That's a natural human response. The merged servers took a few days/weeks to settle in together and get used to the new world order. Despite all the attention and exaggerated claims made both in game and on message boards in regards to that first merge, what happened one year later? They merged a whole new set of servers. In other words, the ends justify the means, "you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette," [insert your favorite cliche here]. The servers and game as a whole was better off despite the complaints some of the louder opponents of the merges made.

At least I'm aware of the fact that everyone is different and nothing is perfect, unlike some people in this discussion aren't, then just assume everyone will be happy ever after with merges.

[Afania]

In other words, the ends justify the means

You know, you're sounding like some sort of tyrant from my high school text book now. Or stereotype antagonist from Japanese anime. Thank god you're not the FFXI decision maker working for SE, everytime dev used "the ends justify the means" as an excuse to push some design or game decision, players rage quit.