Transferring to Balmung: A good idea?

[Knahli]

I want to make a character on there just to see what the fuss is about. Midgarsomr has people but nothing really goes on anymore. Limsa and Ildlyshire are quiet.

I doubt there's really anything to be found here other than a lot of people standing around the cities and such and the aforementioned situation with busy events.

[CyrilLucifer]

If you're going for populated, stay on Leviathan. It's still near the top of the populated NA servers without being overly cramped.

(Also, I prefer Primal DC to Aether in DF, having been on both)

[CatStarPrime]

I like it. It's a whole lot better to be in an active community, even when the shout chat does drift in interesting directions.

Ul'dah is never quiet; crowds in the Quicksand, crowds in front of the Ruby Road Exchange; never creepily empty like the low-pop servers.

Nobody forces you to roleplay and stay in character. You don't have to interact at all, with anyone, if you wish. Just keep half an ear on conversations you'll walk past

Housing - I don't care; never been interested, never will be. If you think having an in-game manse is de rigeur, Balmung is not the place to be. Otherwise, come on!

[Knahli]

Nobody forces you to roleplay and stay in character. You don't have to interact at all, with anyone, if you wish. Just keep half an ear on conversations you'll walk past

*nods* *nods*
I used to sit in the Quicksand a lot when I was partially idle to eavesdrop on the random RP while I did other things. It was interesting to read and no-one minds at all. Worst that happens is someone mistakes you for a RP'er and approaches you.
Another thing is that you encounter more silly moments I guess since there are more people. For instance, people lining up to dance as with the recent Songbird event, or filling up the streets with the /playdead motion when they were released.

[Nixxe]

Transferring here has worked out nicely for me, but I wouldn't have bothered if my friends hadn't transferred here while I was gone from the game. I kind of like things a bit quieter than most though. If you want a populated server, it's certainly the populatedest, though no, you aren't expected to RP. They mostly keep to themselves in the Ul'dah adventurer's guild. There sure are a lot of them. Also the MB has far more items at far lower prices, which could be either a positive or a negative depending on how you interact with the market board.

[Shougun]

If you like a chronic shortage of housing, saturated marketboards, RP flung in your face wherever you go and players desperately vying for attention, you'll love it.

Besides the house issues the other stuff doesn't seem so bad, quiet market = higher price, more people selling makes it more affordable to visit (except for luxury goods which might actually end up being more expensive because we have more gil lol).

Also I've never been approached for RP, but I suppose it doesn't help I don't have a single piece of gear glamoured - and am hyur highlander male? XD

[StarRosie]

Another thing is that you encounter more silly moments

Pretty much this. Specially in Ul'dah, I remember a time I ended up having a 30 minute conversation in Shout with about 4 random people about the shifting meta of Yu-Gi-Oh and how it sucks the slow game meta is pretty much dead thanks to the newer cards. Was fun.

As for the thread topic!

Balmung is a mixed bag, yes there is a massive housing shortage! Buuuuuuut, half the time you'll get pulled into an FC that is sitting on a pretty good house with a workshop and plenty of rooms. RPers are almost a dime a dozen but they seem to run on the "You don't mess with me I don't mess with you." rule. So yeah. Marketboard is kinda janked up, since we have so many people, prices for items can raise or plummet at any second. I remember putting up a HQ Goblin Scimitar for sale, average market price for HQ was about 35k, I put it up for 32k, I went out for lunch, came back, checked on things, the average price for HQ dropped to 5k. I was gone for 30 minutes.

Overall, Balmung is fun though, but we are kinda packed into our server like sardines. Just look up any Balmung screenshots of Ildy and you'll see what I mean.

[Kurando]

I'm not a big fan of the long loading screens. At peak times it can take such a long time to get in to Idyllshire with so many people there, and a few of the other cities as well. It's often nice to travel between these places when it's not so busy, but otherwise I guess there is many people to chat to and find duty buddies if necessary. The world is a mixed bag, but people will either learn to love it or hate it over time.

[Recaldy]

Quite curious what's wrong with uldah?

It's the most popular RP zone. Any and every role play stereotype be it positive or negative exists there.

[OMGAFLYINGPENGUIN]

It's the most popular RP zone. Any and every role play stereotype be it positive or negative exists there.

Dang.. never knew. Ul'dah is the least populated area in most JP servers unless there is a event. I think for tonberry Limsa probably has the most.