Low pop server / Server inactivity

[Zephanoa]

Paris --

I am sorry to hear what is going on with your particular server. Ultros seems to have been roughly the same way as of late; but we've attributed some of this to a. waiting for 2.5 and the followup 2.5x content or b. even 3.0. I hope things get better for you guys.

Cheers.

[KaedrianLiang]

All they have to do is get rid of the LEGACY tags and people will stop fleeing.

[Rhas]

shareholders and the like will view mergers as the game is failing... (

What shareholders? SE owns it, just like originally with WoW and Blizzard.

FFXIV is not in the same boat as 95% of all the other MMO out there that actually have to listen to shareholder *demands* and implement them regardless of what the main company says.

If SE really wants to do it, they will. Just like they did with XI... Though, I really don't see it happening at this point, especially with 3.0 so close. The game is still far too popular.

Many of the problems where it seems like worlds are less active (imo) are due to most people not working on low content anymore and strictly farming for things like light. People are still in the game, just doing different content.

[Saseal]

Couerl also
I've noticed a drop in pop also - some maps just end up barren except for an occasional newbie player - which could also just be an Alt (like I have) - doing a quest or gatherers here and there. Fate trains in Coerthas and Costa del Sol just don't seem quite as big and even Mor Dhona doesn't seem as bustling lately (hell, even with my bad memory I'm starting to pick out and recognize names of persistant Mor Dhonuts visitors - I couldn't do that before, from sheer amount of people + bad memory). With exception of some occasions (like the fat chocobo train chain)

2.5 and it's splits might bring people back long enough for Heavensward, I hope.... or at least lessen the loss of interest in the timespan of between 2.5 and Heavensward

Edit: Like Rhas said, it could be that the server's player base is now just "too old" for running the older content - but that also might also mean we're not getting many actual newbies that stick around, either

[Noahlimits]

What shareholders? SE owns it, just like originally with WoW and Blizzard.

You do realize Square Enix itself has shareholders, right? They can view servers merging or population dropping as failure depending on the incoming revenue. And they do have a say on what happens within the company, FFXIV included.

http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/ir/faq.html

[Rhas]

You do realize Square Enix itself has shareholders, right? They can view servers merging or population dropping as failure depending on the incoming revenue. And they do have a say on what happens within the company, FFXIV included.

http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/ir/faq.html

Again, FFXIV is not in the same boat as 95% of all the other MMO out there that actually have to listen to shareholder *demands* and implement them regardless of what the main company says.

Look at all the companies out there that have made a mess of things strictly because of shareholders. Lets just throw out the MMO name LOTRO as a perfect example, for instance. Or GW2.... How's SWTOR doing after being forced to go F2P. I really shouldn't have to go on at this point.

The main thing is, the shareholders SE does have don't have much real input about getting things forced into/onto the game. SE holds the control. Sure if enough investors tell SE they would like to see a certain thing or another, they may try to accommodate but SE will never be forced into implementing something it doesn't want to.

[Marxam]

Problem is that the endgame scene has died out. I remember fall gourd being bustling during Scob but with Fcob, in N. than its just the two to three statics that I see. I used to raid before I moved but stuff happened so I had to stop. However the fact that there are little to no "good" t8-9 farm groups has led me to believe why ppl are leaving. I don't want to waste raid time gearing alts and neither do some of the serious players in the server. Before you say I am elitist I would like to say that I expect people to at least know how to play their job and if they don't ask questions. Idm helping, and I have helped a couple ppl in my ls get their t9 clears. But its starts to get annoying when u want to gear for glamour but you can't clear nerfed content.

[Titor]

I remember fall gourd being bustling during Scob but with Fcob, in N. than its just the two to three statics that I see.

This is not just low server pop, but the fact that t9 is still a huge wall for most people without a static or in a casual static. A lot of people just do not have it unlocked. It is same even on a high pop server like Balmung, there are people there yes but not like fallgourd was.

[PariSexus]

A lot of valid points all around. Thanks all for the input and civil discourse.

While its hardly scientific, I am basing my statements on the monitoring of party finder/forums and linkshells/ Free Company status (Size numbers and transfers)- as well as conversations with a lot of the still active veteran FC's on the server - I'm sure there is still people playing on Coeurl but its not quite what it used to be. In Prime time you only see a couple of things in party finder , where one of them is probably someone hunting and another is crafter selling his services, and possibly a T9 or shiva farm. Ocassionally, we do break that mold and get some things rolling but its few and far in between. I dont mean to paint Coeurl as a dead server but was just wondering if there were any talks or if anyone had any knowledge of SE mentioning/addressing this issue.

As far as T9, its still a gate for some that don't have the oppprtunity to run with a static. While I have noticed that a static that is replacing a member for FCoB has no issue getting the T9 clear for someone that doesn't really help all the other people.

My FC runs strike teams on Saturday evenings. We try to get clears for people and teach them the fights. We are thinking of extending that service and taking down names of people interested in forming statics and try to get people together. In simple terms, offering the server a service to form static pugs, in hopes that they can become permanent statics.

While the future is indeed unclear. We try to keep trucking a long with a smile on our face.

[Sadana]

Unfortunately, threads like this will only do more harm than good to your server. Now anyone coming to the OF to look for a good server that sees this thread probably will not pick Coeurl as a destination.

What can SE do to funnel new players to Coeurl or similar low pop servers? As of now, they close the high pop servers. Sadly, it takes a crowd to draw a crowd. Look at Balmung for example... folks would rather not play at all if they can't get into THAT server. >< People come to the OF and ask for 'active' servers.

What can players do? Advertise the shit out of your home server. What does your server offer that others don't? What about the FCs? You mention events, market those. Do you have friendly people willing to help newbies? Say so. Good place for solo players? See if you can entice them. Low cost (and still available) housing? Let people know.

Good luck!