Transfer Restrictions and Roleplayers

[Marluxia]

Final Fantasy XIV has a thriving roleplaying community, and Balmung is its (unofficial) hub. A hub that just got neutered due to these transfer and creation restrictions coming out of nowhere with no warning.

With the new transfer restrictions in place, any new players who wanted to roleplay on the largest server now don't have any options, and part of the problem is that there's no officially designated RP server.

With these restrictions in place and the RP community now too large and too sedentary to coordinate the growth of another server, it'll be very difficult for roleplayers to find a community. And honestly, I don't think roleplayers want to flood an unsuspecting server's PvErs with another "unofficial" RP server.

Some background: The RP community consolidated on Besaid in 1.0, and remained there when Besaid and Fabul got merged to create Balmung. Besaid was more or less picked out arbitrarily by community vote as the unofficial RP server.

Balmung is saturated, both with RPers and non-RPers, hence the population problem.

The solution to this is very simple though: create and designate an official RP server, and offer free transfers to that server with no loss of assets.

It's important to designate an official RP server because one of the core causes of Balmung's overpopulation is the lack of segregation between RPers and non-RPers. RPers really only want to be on a server with other RPers, and I'm inclined to think that non-RPers don't want to be on a server with a bunch of RPers, generally speaking.

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TL;DR

1). One of the main reasons why Balmung is overpopulated is because it has two servers' worth of players in two broad demographics. Balmung has been host to both RPers and non-RPers ever since Besaid and Fabul were merged.

2). Providing incentive for the RP community to move is the easiest way to lower Balmung's population. Non-RPers generally don't have many reasons to transfer, whereas RPers will transfer to be with other RPers, especially if that transfer is free.

3). A new server that is designated with an "RP" tag is the ideal solution. A new server means that players and Free Companies who transfer can keep the exact plot that they own and all of their assets such as airships. It also means that an unsuspecting server's PVErs don't have to be flooded with RPers.

4). The restriction should last until sufficient people (in this case, mostly RPers) have transferred off. I know this is controversial, but after further thought, I don't think the New Server Solution would work without this. Keeping the restriction is key in removing Balmung's reputation as the "RP hub". Otherwise, RPers will keep transferring to Balmung and keep making characters on Balmung indefinitely and we end up with a pretty bad cycle.

[Airget]

"Transfers to the following Worlds will be suspended until their active player populations have stabilized."

"Transfers to the following Worlds will be suspended until their active player populations have stabilized."

Nothing about forever, yet you are treating it like that. Sure it sucks that if someone wanted X server they will now have to wait, but the integrity of the servers outweigh giving players the option to choose any server to go to.

[Zojha]

Nothing about forever, yet you are treating it like that.

In fairness - if they are consequent about evening out the population, it will take years to get Balmung in line. It's more than twice as big as even the supposedly "congested" EU servers. The only way it's gonna open again in this decade is if the restriction is only meant as temporary measure for the start of Stormblood.

[Voison]

So just help start a new role playing community on another server...?

[Vanitas]

So just help start a new role playing community on another server...?

This really needs to happen. If the community as a whole would make an effort to give birth to a new unofficial RP or even "Raiding" server, then there would be more options for future players.
Balmung ended up this way because this never happened. I mean its gonna have to happen now with it being closed off finally, but I'm sure people will just complain instead.

[Velynea]

This really needs to happen. If the community as a whole would make an effort to give birth to a new unofficial RP or even "Raiding" server, then there would be more options for future players.
Balmung ended up this way because this never happened. I mean its gonna have to happen now with it being closed off finally, but I'm sure people will just complain instead.

I think you severely underestimate that there is no such thing as 'just' making another roleplay server.

[Greedalox]

I think you severely underestimate that there is no such thing as 'just' making another roleplay server.

You'd be amazing at what a few people taking the reins with a lot of unhappy people following can do.

[Velynea]

You'd be amazing at what a few people taking the reins with a lot of unhappy people following can do.

Once more. I think you severely underestimate that there is no such thing as 'just' making another roleplay server.

[sydh]

You'd be amazing at what a few people taking the reins with a lot of unhappy people following can do.

Gilgamesh started that way in 2.0 and has since pretty much fallen off to near nothing now. That was a LOT of people back then making it work but it is barely hanging on as today. Now there is no new rpers even there.

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

You'd be amazing at what a few people taking the reins with a lot of unhappy people following can do.

This is quite true. With just a little effort, and some networking, I've been helping cultivate a PvP community on Goblin, and I'm happy to see it thriving.

That said, despite its size, Goblin's got a little of everything. And plenty of housing. No, our Quicksand isn't a notorious hub for RPers, but I know we do have a good number of them around. If you're considering a move for Stormblood, make an alt and come scope out Goblin.