Balmung is currently impacted by larger queues than any other server, making the game virtually inaccessible for large segments of players who log in during NA primetime (after standard work day hours). The existing server transfer bonuses have proven ineffective to alleviate the congestion on Balmung. This is because the server hosts a large legacy player PVE population and the FFXIV roleplay community. MMORPGs are social games, and players are justified in desiring to retain their communities, especially when players form communities around specific interests (roleplaying) that depend on having a central hub.

Roleplayers have no incentive or desire to transfer when one of their primary aspects of gameplay (roleplay) depends entirely on having access to the roleplay community and like-minded individuals. The overwhelming majority of roleplayers will always want to play on the server populated with the most other roleplayers, as it sustains a vibrant and healthy RP community. It is unreasonable to expect like-minded players to split communities and friendships built over months and years. This is why current population control measures on Balmung have not worked and will not work.

There is only one viable solution to resolving the population issue on Balmung: the creation of an official roleplay server and offering existing transfer bonuses to that server. This would cost SE virtually nothing to implement and would benefit all players. Roleplayers are a heavily ostracized, small (but sizable) community that have specific needs in terms of how their community is structured. For roleplay to exist and prove sustainable over time, roleplayers need access to a centralized place where they can find other roleplayers. Because roleplay varies so much in terms of style and content, it is critical for roleplayers to have a centralized server. This allows them to find others who are interested in roleplay and protect themselves from individuals who mock or troll roleplay. A substantial number of roleplayers (if not most of the entire roleplay community) would likely transfer to the new RP server within days of its release, alleviating the population issue on Balmung. Non-roleplayers would benefit because the congestion on Balmung would be substantially reduced, and some non-roleplayers do not desire to be on the same server as roleplayers for personal (often unreasonable) reasons.

There are no valid arguments for why an official roleplay server should not be designated. It will cost virtually nothing to implement and meet the demands of the vast majority of the player base. SE's concern that a RP server would be a "toxic" environment is rooted in speculation, conjecture, and unfamiliarity with the western RP community. The overwhelming majority of the roleplay community (99%+) is generally mature and enjoys the same PVE content experienced by other players. As a community frequently trolled and harassed by others, roleplayers are empathetic and unlikely to treat other players in the very way they are often treated in many settings. Most roleplay is done in private settings between RPers who consent to roleplay. RPers do not force roleplay on others or look down upon players who are not interested in roleplay.

SE risks nothing to lose by designating an official RP server, and it would alleviate the population issue on Balmung at minimal cost to the benefit of all players.