Raid Only Server

[xXRaineXx]

I don't know if this has been covered already, so please say so if it was.

What if there was a raid server for each region, where any player can get into without having to transfer from any server? Also have it strictly raid/pf only.
Simplify the world into a small condensed wolves den type map, with a retainer bell and MB so people can trade and sell pots and foods etc.
That way, statics can have it easier finding people and casual raid groups can also find people easier.

I know there are some problems with a server like this, probably more bad ones than good ones. But it will probably make end-game raiding a lot more reliable.

This server can also keep the auto-kick function so that people don't clog up the server loads with all dem afk's. Also making it raid only means that players will simply return to their own servers during their off times to enjoy RP or sit on a bench all day. This also means that people don't have to transfer servers just to find static groups - by leaving behind all their friends etc, and their gil...

[StrejdaTom]

This is a really good idea, some kind of raid finding instance that would be out of server.
Not sure if its implementation is possible, but we have DF that is spread around whole dataserver so some kind of interaction between servers is obviously possible.
I believe even lorewise this could be possible, as some safe haven for all Warriors of Light.

[xXRaineXx]

It will probably be *hard* and may take a while to implement *if* they ever consider it. But other MMO's have done this before, so I wouldn't say it's impossible. But with Yoshida saying everything has a *quote* 'data limitation' *end quote*, we may never see this happen.
But IF, just maybe IFFFFF we can get a raid server where anyone from any regional server whether that be JP\NA\EU can join can play... this will possible create a much larger end-game raiding community.

[Ryel]

I'd rather they just add the option for cross server (within data center) Party Finders and Friends Lists really, it'd be much more constructive / effective.

[o3o]

the problem with that is that is that area would become a hub for basically everyone on every server. im not sure about your servers. but here on balmung there are around 80 people in shire on balmung at the moment im typing this (used player search function).

now there is no market board in shire. if you added one that number will most likely increase alot more. now lets say there are on average 7 servers per server group take 80 and x7 it and fit them all in an area the size of the wolves den.

now lets do that with all the servers instead which lets say there is about 20 of them. lets do 80x20 and you get just a massive cluster fuck of people in one area.

we kinda already have a raid hub, which is basically shire... the town right next to the raid area. i see this being really really really difficult to get together and not actually worthwhile.

[xXRaineXx]

I'd rather they just add the option for cross server (within data center) Party Finders and Friends Lists really, it'd be much more constructive / effective.

There will be some barriers to that.

1. Communication.

2. You cannot see party members in the party list unless they are in the same map as you. So when someone is in a another server, how would you see them?

3. Continuing from 2, for raids such as AS, every party member needs to be in the same map to enter. How would one know if everyone is there if everyone was on different servers?

4. This would create a lot of stress on server loads since it would mean to send various information all over the place.

5. That's why DF exists, to simplify all of this into a single instance for cross-server play.

[xXRaineXx]

Quote

Auto-kick priority for all AFK's. You can only raid so much in a day and I'm pretty sure that the players who stand around in Shire are 50% afk 100% of the time. Players who like their own community will go back for it and AFK's will just get kicked. Not like you need AFK's anyways.

[o3o]

Auto-kick priority for all AFK's. You can only raid so much in a day and I'm pretty sure that the players who stand around in Shire are 50% afk 100% of the time. Players who like their own community will go back for it and AFK's will just get kicked. Not like you need AFK's anyways.

the problem is thats still a ton of people. and would get unbearably worse every time a new raid released and the hype train to be the first to wipe to the first turn/floor/whatever was chugging on at full speed.

[Gamer3427]

While I like this idea, particularly as it's been near impossible to find good players for my small static that are wanting to raid just to have fun and not take it too seriously, I do have one major question. How exactly would you implement the area as "raiders only"? Auto-kick afk players won't help that, and if it's cross-server and has a MB and Retainer Bell, then a significant chunk of the players in the game will go there simply because they can, thus multiplying the problem stated by "o3o" above. Particularly if you're allowing players to gather there to look for members, and not just go directly into raids. Any methods I can think of that would discourage non-raiding players from entering the area would also discourage raiding players from being there unless they were just about to go into a raid, including players that are searching to fill a static, but don't get players right away. Again, I like the idea greatly, but I just don't think it would realistically work.....

EDIT:

There will be some barriers to that.

1. Communication. Cross Server Party Chat

2. You cannot see party members in the party list unless they are in the same map as you. So when someone is in a another server, how would you see them? You can see players in the party list when they're not on the same map as you, you just can't actively see their stats, class, ect. And even the class and location you can see when looking at the actual party list from the menu.....

3. Continuing from 2, for raids such as AS, every party member needs to be in the same map to enter. How would one know if everyone is there if everyone was on different servers? Remove that restriction, (I see no real reason for such a thing to exist anyhow), and again, you can see player location from the in menu party list.....

4. This would create a lot of stress on server loads since it would mean to send various information all over the place. I agree it would, but likely not as much as you would think since it is contained within the same data center. We don't have issues as is communicating with other players on the same data center we meet in the DF do we?

5. That's why DF exists, to simplify all of this into a single instance for cross-server play. Except for the fact that for raids and the EX primals, DF isn't an option until they nerf it latter on, (if even then).

[Amiaze]

I'd rather they just add the option for cross server (within data center) Party Finders and Friends Lists really, it'd be much more constructive / effective.

When I read this, all I saw was a long list of scheduled and emergency maintenance times. Please look forward to it.

I don't think a Duty Server would be feasible, mostly because some of your information is store on whatever server you're on, correct? It isn't all client-side. I think an instance would be more effective. If you've ever played Dragon's Dogma, then think of the Rift. You'd go into an instance such as that, possibly a large and empty area, and search out party members looking to go into whatever it is you want so long as they're in your data center.

Alternatively, you could just queue up for something and be sent into an instance set aside for players wanting to run that specific thing. This might sound strange, but hear me out. One thing the community here wants is for the game to feel more like a functioning community, although Duty Finder actively works against this. Allowing players from different servers to pick and choose players to run with for specific content would eliminate the random element of the Duty Finder, as well as give players the ability to mingle with others. If I see a tank that I know is good in Alexander shouting for something, I'd just go with them. I wouldn't be limited to just my server, and players that are negative towards others would no longer have the option of relying on their anonymity to see them through content.

We wouldn't even need to eliminate the Duty Finder. It could simply be worked into this, or given the PvP treatment: just make the Rift instance and let the Duty Finder die on its own because nobody is in it anymore.