[Balmung] Server Issues, safety, and overcrowding

[Aamalthea]

This is partially the RP community's fault. SE does not have an RP tag on any server. "We" (going to use We to refer to those who are into RP) did that. We are so heavily invested in that one damn server that it's very difficult to find RP outside of it. What we really need to do is take it upon ourselves LIKE WE DID THE FIRST TIME and choose another, maybe low pop server even, to have as a second RP server. We can't depend on SE to do everything, some things we need to come together ourselves and do. We know there are limitations because of how the game was developed. Work with the system, not against it.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

This is partially the RP community's fault. SE does not have an RP tag on any server. "We" (going to use We to refer to those who are into RP) did that. We are so heavily invested in that one damn server that it's very difficult to find RP outside of it. What we really need to do is take it upon ourselves LIKE WE DID THE FIRST TIME and choose another, maybe low pop server even, to have as a second RP server. We can't depend on SE to do everything, some things we need to come together ourselves and do. We know there are limitations because of how the game was developed. Work with the system, not against it.

Like I mentioned earlier, it has been tried multiple times. Very few people want to be apart of building an entirely separate community when a massive alternative exists since it's a somewhat thankless job.

The RP community here is already splintered due to the nature of Balmung being locked and overcrowded to the detriment of other game mechanics. Sure, almost everyone that makes RP an absolute top priority will eventually pony up for a transfer to Balmung, but that is a subset of players interested in RP. The RP community in FFXIV is losing a constant stream of new players by focusing on a locked mega server. Those players are going to start on other servers, put down roots, and likely never go to Balmung. I don't think there is a good solution at this point, since Balmung has established itself and the sentiment of 'don't promote RP on other servers, it will splinter our community!' runs deep here (as you've demonstrated again!). Tagging a medium population server as an RP server might eventually give a chance to form a new RP community outside of Balmung, but it won't be quick and I'm sure the Balmung community will fuss about it. If nothing is done, Balmung will stay locked, and the grand RP community there will be missing out on a steady stream of new players interested in RP. Of course, they probably won't care, since the community is big enough I guess. *shrug* Maybe someday the servers will merge and we'll just have data centers with zone instances, making these server population issues go away.

Mayhaps it would, but like I said, Gilgamesh actually managed a decently sized RP community only to inevitably be cannibalized by Balmung. No one fussed over it nor would most Balmungian's care if there were another server. I just don't see it working because the majority of roleplayers gravitate towards the largest communities. Would I like to be proven wrong? Absolutely. Not having to pay a transfer fee to get more RP options would be nice for people. I just think it'll go the same route we've already seen.

[Mixae]

It would be nice if somehow there was a mega server or two like in Wildstar and ESO

[Vexander]

I generally don't use Moon Guard as something to aspire to. However, I believe Wyrmrest Accord is not quite as large. That aside, its been a very long time since I played WoW (I quite during Cataclysm). I'm speaking more from what I knew compared to what exists today. Considering WoW Hemorrhaged subs with the failure that was WoD, I couldn't begin to imagine when one server or another became highly populated or not.

[Harmonea]

That aside, its been a very long time since I played WoW (I quite during Cataclysm). I'm speaking more from what I knew compared to what exists today.

You're misremembering. During Cataclysm, they had one guild flirting with top 500 and then almost nothing else above 5000.

Edit - I only stress this point because this WoW server was used as an example of why a large RP server is a good thing, but there's really no basis for this opinion. If anything, it reinforces the opposite--a large RP server is a mediocre thing at best. There comes a point where the best decision is to close the server, even to paid transfers, and offer free transfers off.

[NolLacnala]

There comes a point where the best decision is to close the server, even to paid transfers, and offer free transfers off.

Yoshida wouldn't do this, and SE wouldn't let him do this, since Balmung prints banks, which then print money in the form of transfers in and fantasias.

[Harmonea]

Yoshida wouldn't do this, and SE wouldn't let him do this, since Balmung prints banks, which then print money in the form of transfers in and fantasias.

So you posit that people on, say, Faerie don't buy Fantasias? That RPers wouldn't buy them unless they play on Balmung? This reasoning doesn't make any sense to me.

Transfers I'll grant you, but I counter with an unquantified monetary disadvantage: how many people quit the game before they even start because they can't play with their friends? Or quit because they want to both RP and find available housing, or any of the other issues in the OP? Megaservers help no one.

[CookieMonsta]

So you posit that people on, say, Faerie don't buy Fantasias? That RPers wouldn't buy them unless they play on Balmung? This reasoning doesn't make any sense to me.

Transfers I'll grant you, but I counter with an unquantified monetary disadvantage: how many people quit the game before they even start because they can't play with their friends? Or quit because they want to both RP and find available housing, or any of the other issues in the OP? Megaservers help no one.

Probalby, but the current money speaks for itself. A dollar today is worth two tomorrow.

[NolLacnala]

I don't even

I posit nothing. Are you even replying to the right person? Stop reading between lines and jumping to conclusions based on your vacuous, pre-conceived bias.

Here, this will be the first time I have ever written the word "Megaserver." Phew, new words are hard, forgive me.

Bear in mind I am neither defending nor attacking, simply stating fact. Yoshi could very well announce cessation of all in-transfers tomorrow.

[Vexander]

So, as a hypothetical, if every server on the Aether Data Center was merged into a single Mega Server, would you consider that a good thing, or a bad thing? Such a merger would include stacking the Housing Districts so no one loses a home, so say, Gilgamesh does Wards 1-12, Balmung 13-24, Mateus 25-36, etc...