Originally Posted by
Oaken
In response to the “lulz, u crazy, dude, where is ur evidence, SE knows everyting and hasn’t made mistake since 1.0, lulz” line of responses, I’ve edited the OP to address that issue:
There is no reasonable basis for anyone to conclude that there is a population problem on Balmung at the present time. SE has presented no data or information about the current population level. Some posters are acting like SE has released concrete information that supports its decision. It has not, and in many instances SE has struggled to accurately report data or made inadvertent errors (i.e. – “FFXIV has surpasses 10 Million Players press release”; 1.0; Diadem, etc.). If you want to believe SE has correctly continued to lock the server, you need more information to reasonably conclude that at the present time. For example, it could state: “There are X active accounts on Balmung within the last 30 days. A FFXIV server can presently handle Y active accounts before server instability becomes a critical issue. Over the past 3 months, Z active accounts have transferred from the server. At this rate, the server will likely be unlocked in U months.” It is likely that SE may be keeping the server locked based on a metric like total number of characters (without taking into account active accounts). It is likely that SE does not understand the full extent of how the server lock is harming FCs, dividing the FFXIV RP community, and creating stagnation, which will ultimately lead to a loss of subscribers. The point of this thread is to point these issues out to SE and give people impacted by these issues a place to voice their concern.
Thanks for your post. It poses several good questions. Short on time, so forgive typos and conclusory explanations.
1. First off, on what grounds did you assume the right to speak for the Balmung's RP communities? (Yes, plural, communities. Balmung's RP groups split up into subsections like most other RP locale.)
As much as any other member of the RP community. Most observations made in the OP are derived from the observable state of Balmung. There are no queues or server congestion issues at the present time. Without new players, FCs and groups are finding it increasingly difficult to find new members, and most are continuing the trend of turning inwards. Unfortunately, there are no empirical studies or concrete data. But thankfully, basic reasoning and antidotal observation are sufficient to prove the points in the OP. I’m fully aware advocating forcefully against a SE policy may annoy some in the community who have no vested interest in Balmung and simply enjoy trolling the forums to feel better about themselves. I usually avoid online forums for this reason (see post count). Ultimately, who cares? If SE even glances at this post (or another like it), and decides to at least release more information, it will be worth the minimal amount of time it has taken to draft.
2. Did you truly think for more than yourself when making this thread. Are you aware of who you happen to be representing, intentionally or otherwise?
Yes. I made the thread because the server lock is damaging the long-term viability of the FFXIV RP community and causing stagnation on Balmung. It would have been easier to do nothing. I’m well aware that some consider these types of posts pretentious and annoying. Again, who cares? The important thing here is that SE needs to understand that the server lock is harming the community, and players are aware of no valid reasons why the lock is in place. We have seen no data, heard no responses, or any type of concrete update on the issue. You seem intelligent enough to understand that an individual can never really speak for the community, and forming an opinion about an organization based on the personal views of one of its members is immature and stupid (and quite similar to how many RPers hold prejudicial views towards RPers). The RP community has been the subject of Kotaku posts about brothels and ERP. If this post is the tipping point that destroys its reputation, the risk was worth taking. There is nothing unreasonable about the points made in the OP, and one purpose of this forum is to alert the developers to potential issues with the game.
The RP community should not embrace passive, defeatist attitudes and “live with what they have.” We are paying consumers and have every much as right to voice opinions about the game, especially when the size of the community likely exceeds other discrete sects of the community, like players seriously attempting ultimate raiding. You might be content to sit on your hands and hope for the best. Others are not.
3. Have you considered the possibility of there being better, more fruitful efforts to invest your time?
These posts take minimal time and effort. There are plenty of people making attempts to rally RPers and drum up RP. The absence of threads that address the consequences of the server lock and question the validity of SE's decision, however, is alarming. It possibly stems from the contentment many RPers feel with the status quo, and the fear of speaking out against the quo (as shown as the vitriol and trolling displayed in this thread). Creating plotlines and RP events does not address a systemic issue with the server itself: stagnation arising from an excessive and unneeded population control remedy.
4. Have you considered the notion that it may ultimately be the Balmung Rp Community's Responsibility for its own health?
Yes. That is why this post was drafted and many in the community work hard to support the community. It is unfortunate some members of the community adopt a passive approach to this issue, and forget that they have the ability to question unsound policies and advocate for reasonable changes to those policies. Instead of fearing that others will “beat up RPers” or “give people clubs to beat up Balmung,” it is better to address major problems and inequities head on. We’re all nerds playing a six-year old catgirl simulator, after all, and shouldn’t be concerned with others think of us. If the best thing a few forum lurkers can do is post juvenile memes and mock how someone thinks and types, it should be a sign that someone has a decent point. I’d explain more, but I can’t find anymore colorful words in my thesaurus to use. Sorry.