Dear SE, please unlock Balmung

[Blackweaver]

Probably the only real way to actively fight the RMT, is to completely block their access to the game entirely. Even if it means blocking the IP of their general location. Or prevent them from making accounts by keeping tabs on the credit cards they use, or the emails they use. Though credit cards might be the biggest way. If they are using trial accounts, well... the only solution to that, is to do away with the trials, or stick trial accounts onto their own server and when it is upgrade time, offer them a free transfer to a server of their choice after they pay for the game.

These are only suggestions mind you

[Tiggy]

Let me be more clear on this then.

The number of characters that exist on a given world has nothing to do with the server being locked. Though I thought it was pretty clear considering I quoted someone suggesting people delete their alts as a solution...

The amount of people that have logged on to the server in the past several hours (the last window for character creation) is what determines a server lock, not the amount of people logging in exactly at the time the clock rolls over.

Agreed completely. Was definitely a misunderstanding on my part. Like I said I've seen that other argument made in the past so I jumped to conclusions. Sorry about that.

[Narbzilla]

What the heck, you already have 6(!!) characters on this server, and want to create ANOTHER one? And you're complaining about how the server is locked 24/7??

This guy does it it better http://guildwork.com/users/iulus/characters

[MageBlack]

Probably the only real way to actively fight the RMT, is to completely block their access to the game entirely. Even if it means blocking the IP of their general location. Or prevent them from making accounts by keeping tabs on the credit cards they use, or the emails they use. Though credit cards might be the biggest way. If they are using trial accounts, well... the only solution to that, is to do away with the trials, or stick trial accounts onto their own server and when it is upgrade time, offer them a free transfer to a server of their choice after they pay for the game.

These are only suggestions mind you

How does one tell the difference between an RMT and someone farming to save money for a plot of land? I would really hate to get banned cause I started to farm crystals by going from node to node. Especially if i accidentally did that teleport glitch. Yes, after a point it is obvious to us but banning accounts or blocking CC access is only a bandaid solution, for these types its nothing to hack another account or buy another copy or change their VPN or apply/steal another CC. gotta find out how to stop them before they start. also consider that they wouldnt be able to continue if people didnt buy their product. No market, no RMT.

[myahele]

There's also a high probability that there are people with multiple characters and are multi-boxing to farm shards/stuff.

It's apparently fine and not against TOS

[Snugglebutt]

Here's what SE should do. Figure out the percentage population roughly of bots vs players and lets say it's 10% bots 90% players. Keep server worlds open until hit 110% capacity, lock them at that time and go through banning the accounts of the 10% of bots leaving 100% players within a locked server preventing any more RMT new bots being made. Rinse and repeat for each world that hits capacity. If you account is hacked by RMT, SE already has steps regarding such issues.

If you are not one of those in the 100% player locked world but want to get in then too bad for you but get over it and pick another world. Open up free transfer weekends from time to time on SE side so friends and groups/FCs can move to be together on other servers if needs be to alleviate the problem though. Keep the locked worlds locked until the population drops below 50% then unlock it once more and let it rise to around 110% again before repeating the earlier steps. Quite simple and fairly effective solution in my opinion.

[Black91CRX]

That's the thing. I shouldn't have to. If Blizzard Entertainment can make a full server be locked to prevent new players from making characters on a full server, but still allow players who are already on the server, to make an alt, then SE can too. But I have a feeling soon I will be able to make my alt. We got a maintenance coming up soon, for the patch that brings gold saucer. So I will probably be able to make my alt then. But regardless, SE needs to address the server always locked issue.

Perhaps not, but it does solve your problem.

[Catwho]

when I left Lamia, it was a freakin ghost town.

We're now the 5th or 6th most populated server by some estimates. SOOOOOO many new players. You can't turn your head in a city without seeing a green leaf. We actually have enough people in our FFXI Veteran free company to do full FC clears of eight man content every night. It's great.

[Gardes]

If Blizzard can do it, SE is capable of doing it too!

Funniest thing I read in a while.

[Anapingofness]

Man... T_T I love Goblin and all but I would kill to not get spammed by RMT all day. I have my tell sound turned off but I can still see it on my screen.
If I had a penny for every tell I received from RMT in a given play session I'd be rich enough to pay off my school loans.

So while Balmung may be locked 99% of the time at least you don't have to deal with as much RMT spam.

More to the point, I think that if a server is locked then it should stay locked- nobody gets in, including new characters from existing accounts and server transfers. The server in question should then remain locked until enough people leave/quit/transfer off/etc.
I know Balmung isn't the only server who has this issue. I've seen people complain about Greg, Levi, and Tonberry as well.

I realize it sucks but please remember that the server population caps are there for a reason.