That defeats the purpose of locking the server to begin with.
It's more like letting someone catch a deep breath before choking them - it's not gonna matter, it only prolongs the process a little bit.
If they want to make a serious dent in the population, they'll have to close the server for years to come anyway, with regular free transfer programs to try and get people off. A handful of last minute refugees aren't gonna change that in any noteworthy way.
The alternative is to just go ahead and pull an Odin, split the server and be done.
I didn't read 24 pages of whining, sorry. I congratulate SE for finally taking this step, it was long overdue.
Suggestion (sponsored by SO): Go to a different server and RP you are on Balmung. Problem solved
Odin minion comes from the veteran rewards
https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/m...d-up_odin2.jpg
The statue comes with the emote Zantetsuken which is Odin special move that usually insta-kills enemies by slicing them in half.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-b8nPhY8WE
Its not so bad locking the gates for a little bit. Its my experience that most new leaves are people from outside Balmung who rip on Balmung for our rep/erp/roleplayers but due to the anonymity of the internet make alts to explore it. Its as hypocritical as a fire and brimstone anti-gay pastor who secretly goes to gay clubs.
Let SB wreak the servers a month or three and when it all calms down let them back in. Hell people have been complaining for years that BAL is the only game in town. Maybe this is the pressure needed.