The scary paradigm shift of Balmung.

[YukioKobayashi]

Where is the "Online interactions not rated by the ESRB." Army?

[Jeeqbit]

Balmung was always an RP hub. Almost every single FC was named ??-RP. And it was mostly genuine RP and you'd see people RP out in the world and cities RPing, absolutely everywhere. I mean RP as adventurers, mercenaries, travelers, inns, "free companies", etc. Having detailed character biographies was common.

But when World Visit released, everyone traveled the Balmung immediately, for one reason only: they came to Ul'dah to see if the rumors were true. I waited there and said hello to people as they came to "see" if the Quicksand meme was true. Of course, they were disappointed to learn it was not true and that the Quicksand was just people discussing life in RP. "How are you doing today?" "Pretty beat up from some bandits I fought off earlier" etc.

Due to the World Visit system, people finally left Balmung and spread across Crystal turning it into the "RP data center" in general.

However, as Balmung's Quicksand meme persisted for years after, I expect it has continually attracted people interested in poor forms of RP of an intimate nature, interfering with the genuine RP. I don't know if that's the case because I left Balmung several years ago, but it was my expectation that this would happen after seeing the sheer amount of people travel to Balmung looking for "intimate" RP.

It's true that, prior to the implementation of World Visit, people did paid transfers to Mateus and treated it as an "overflow" server, but at the time we knew Mateus as the server people were doing... intimate RP on.

[Shezza]

Balmung was always an RP hub. Almost every single FC was named ??-RP. And it was mostly genuine RP and you'd see people RP out in the world and cities RPing, absolutely everywhere. I mean RP as adventurers, mercenaries, travelers, inns, "free companies", etc. Having detailed character biographies was common.

But when World Visit released, everyone traveled the Balmung immediately, for one reason only: they came to Ul'dah to see if the rumors were true. I waited there and said hello to people as they came to "see" if the Quicksand meme was true. Of course, they were disappointed to learn it was not true and that the Quicksand was just people discussing life in RP. "How are you doing today?" "Pretty beat up from some bandits I fought off earlier" etc.

Due to the World Visit system, people finally left Balmung and spread across Crystal turning it into the "RP data center" in general.

However, as Balmung's Quicksand meme persisted for years after, I expect it has continually attracted people interested in poor forms of RP of an intimate nature, interfering with the genuine RP. I don't know if that's the case because I left Balmung several years ago, but it was my expectation that this would happen after seeing the sheer amount of people travel to Balmung looking for "intimate" RP.

It's true that, prior to the implementation of World Visit, people did paid transfers to Mateus and treated it as an "overflow" server, but at the time we knew Mateus as the server people were doing... intimate RP on.

Its uncanny how correct and true this post is.

And I'm afraid that yes, balmung has sadly turned into what you predicted it would be.

[AnnRam]

Server/DC Traveling ruined most of the servers as they lost all the identity and community build.

Balmung nowadays it's just filled with people from Aether or EU and mostly trolls

[Aniya_Estlihn]

However, as Balmung's Quicksand meme persisted for years after, I expect it has continually attracted people interested in poor forms of RP of an intimate nature, interfering with the genuine RP. I don't know if that's the case because I left Balmung several years ago, but it was my expectation that this would happen after seeing the sheer amount of people travel to Balmung looking for "intimate" RP.

Balmung native since ARR here, this is accurate. ERP tourism is so rampant in Ul'dah nowadays that it makes the Balmung I started on look like a church.
World Visit and Data Center travel have genuinely ruined our server's culture and social climate since their implementation and its no secret as to why.

[Vrankyl]

As a former Balmung resident from early HW to early ShB I agree that the current state of Balmung is courtesy of World/Data Center Travel. The tourists turned it into the very thing everyone meme'd about. What was once a small contained corner of the server took over the whole joint making legit RP places harder to manage. I moved to Mateus and honestly... it gives me the same vibes old Balmung used to. Hells, our Quicksand has actual RP going on inside of it like Balmung's used to. Hope on over to Buscaron's Druthers? There's a good chance you'll find RP there. Hell one time a friend and I started RPing there and all of a sudden a whole ton of people were. It was amazing. It's sad that Balmung has become something else these days.

[Illianaro]

As a former Balmung resident from early HW to early ShB I agree that the current state of Balmung is courtesy of World/Data Center Travel. The tourists turned it into the very thing everyone meme'd about. What was once a small contained corner of the server took over the whole joint making legit RP places harder to manage. I moved to Mateus and honestly... it gives me the same vibes old Balmung used to. Hells, our Quicksand has actual RP going on inside of it like Balmung's used to. Hope on over to Buscaron's Druthers? There's a good chance you'll find RP there. Hell one time a friend and I started RPing there and all of a sudden a whole ton of people were. It was amazing. It's sad that Balmung has become something else these days.

I’m increasingly tempted to move over to Mateus as I’ve heard good things about the RP scene there. The biggest thing that has stuck out to me on Balmung lately is how insane shout chat has become in places like Uldah. It’s always been active, but now it’s just off the rails. Forget actually RPing in the Quicksand.

[Bonoki]

Balmung has always had an ERP problem. It was the go-to RP server back in Legacy 1.0. Gilgamesh briefly took the crown as the RP hub in 2.0, but that collapsed due to internal RPC drama, and everyone migrated back to Balmung. Then it briefly shifted to Mateus before inevitably gravitating back to Balmung; now, it's spread everywhere. Just look at Party Finder venues for proof.

World and Data Center visits made it worse—not just for Balmung but across the board. Again, check the number of venue listings in PF; it's no longer a Crystal-exclusive problem. The ERP presence has grown game-wide, regardless of server. That said, Balmung today is a bit worse than in ARR.

And here's the kicker: you probably wouldn’t believe me when I say I get more unsolicited RP offers on Aether than on Crystal. As someone currently living on Balmung, I can tell you from experience that if you avoid the Quicksands, keep your search info completely free of RP references, and play a male character, you’ll significantly reduce the amount of tells you might receive. Adding something like “No Mare” or “No ERP” in your search info also helps; there are so many “fish in the sea” that people will move on to an easier target.

I’m increasingly tempted to move over to Mateus as I’ve heard good things about the RP scene there. The biggest thing that has stuck out to me on Balmung lately is how insane shout chat has become in places like Uldah. It’s always been active, but now it’s just off the rails. Forget actually RPing in the Quicksand.

The shout chat is a huge issue. It's so bad that we have a whole website dedicated to it.
https://thequicksand.live/

[WutWut]

It does seem more difficult nowadays to just organically find RP related to characters, world-building, and what-not like in the old days. RP venues and the like (not clubs and other 18+ ones) do exist, but it feels like one has to go to Discord and know people more to find them now. I miss the organic connection factor a lot. Maybe I'll try lurking around Mateus sometime, if there is indeed people hanging around with carrds and looking for RP that isn't of a, "intimate" nature as its being put in this thread.

[Chiru_Kai]

Welcome to the internet.
Every MMO has this. It's also why online interactions are not rated.

The game and content itself might be 13+, but this is in regards to the story, mechanics, lore, etc. It doesn't say anything about the players.
Doesn't make it better, but don't pretend MMOs, or even the internet at large, is the perfect place for kids.
Because they're not, due to the online interactions with other players, who may behave inappropriately.

As for behaviour... permanent gooners who approach randoms with lewd comments and such... if you get approached in such a manner, it IS reportable, and you should report it. Please do.
Most of the community who indulge into NSFW elements are not that blatantly obvious with it (you can def find them if you go looking though), and that's how it should be.