Should we have a Cross-Server Linkshell?

[EorzeaHero69]

Do you think we should have a cross server linkshell? Mostly asking because some people aren't willing to transfer to another server either outside or inside a specific data center due to them making a lot of good friends, good pug(s) they get in, and/or want to join a raid static from another server. And when they leave a party, it's pretty hard to get in contact with em without VoiP and whatnot.

[Skivvy]

Yes, would love a cross-server linkshell! Also would love full cross-server "guesting" like what GW2 has, but I'm not holding my breath


Errr, edit - I think GW2 is on a megaserver setup now, but back in the day you still were stuck on a server, but could go visit friends on theirs and vice versa

[Silica-chan]

Didn't they say in one of the latest live letters that they are working on this already?

[Brill_]

Didn't they say in one of the latest live letters that they are working on this already?

I think they did.

[alimdia]

Yeah this and cross server friend list are already in development, then cross server FCs will follow.

[Paladinleeds]

They're already working on it and tbh, I'm looking forward to it. Will be nice to reconnect with some of my old friends on Odin!

then cross server FCs will follow.

Ok, not trying to be nasty here, but how in the name of Byregot are they gonna make cross-server FCs work when you factor in housing? Are they planning to actually FIX housing and move it into instances?

[Youkulm]

Do you think we should have a cross server linkshell? Mostly asking because some people aren't willing to transfer to another server either outside or inside a specific data center due to them making a lot of good friends, good pug(s) they get in, and/or want to join a raid static from another server. And when they leave a party, it's pretty hard to get in contact with em without VoiP and whatnot.

Yoshi already confirmed months ago that they're working on this. Should be out after the Cross Server Friendslist. Or was it before? Either way one of those.

The last thing they're working on for cross server social features is cross server FCs. Last thing mentioned anyway.

Ok, not trying to be nasty here, but how in the name of Byregot are they gonna make cross-server FCs work when you factor in housing? Are they planning to actually FIX housing and move it into instances?

Fair question. I had the same one. Thought on it a bit.... The inside of houses are all already instanced. My only thought was that they would make is so cross server members teleported directly into the house vs outside and they would offer suplimentary chocobo stables elsewhere.

[Paladinleeds]

Thought on it a bit.... The inside of houses are all already instanced. My only thought was that they would make is so cross server members teleported directly into the house vs outside and they would offer suplimentary chocobo stables elsewhere.

That wouldn't work and allow me to explain why. Cross-breeding of plants (which in some FCs is actually an FC activity that they work on), wouldn't work cross realm, based on the fact it's done outside (and I don't see them adding it internally when their response to no gardening in apartments was those pots that don't allow cross-breeding). Another issue I've found is the company chest. There's no infrastructure in place for cross realm item storage (for example when I transferred to Louisoix from Odin all my housing items that I'd not collected from the house were lost, not put into storage). Which would scupper the FC chest too.

Oh, and a third issue. If members of that FC can go to the FC house on another realm, what about their friends on the same server as the FC member (but not the FC house) that wanna go see the house? There'd need to be infrastructure in place for that too. No "make an alt on that server/transfer to that server" doesn't count and let me explain why. Let's say the home realm of the FC is Balmung, which is congested. There's no way to transfer to that server, and no way to create new characters on that server. So "make an alt" there or "transfer there" wouldn't work. Hence the need for infrastructure. In essence, I think instancing housing would be the way it'd need to be done.

[Youkulm]

Panic!

I didn't mention anything about gardens. Only the inside of the house. Please don't put words in my mouth. Thank you! <3

Just because there are gardens on FC houses doesn't mean you have to be able to use them to be in a cross server FC. A majority of people will never have the ability to use cross-breeding gardens even if they're in an FC. I do not allow my members to even mess about the garden without asking ( 1 person is given permission at a time ) to prevent people from removing plants or harvesting things that aren't theirs. The only way everyone will have access to it is if the dev team ever decides to add them to inside housing ( apartments, FC rooms, personal houses ). So I seriously doubt that is high on their concern list. Anyhow... I digress.

As far as FC Chests and so forth.... they're clearly working towards a seamless world and items moving across servers is zero issue seeing as they would allow people to transfer taking /all/ of their items including anything they wished to buy. This is even less hindered now by the removal of the gil limits. There is already programing in place to move items across ( currently just duty ) servers as well, how do you think you get to keep and use your infusions and ethers during raid?

While I see your arguments as valid that doesn't change Yoshi's very clear statments about cross server FCs and seamless worlds. This is something they want and is something that will very likely happen in the future. Everything you're concerned about are things they're very likely working on solutions for and will likely be addressed before cross server FCs ever happen....

There was no time frame stated on this either, it is just something they want to do. So please look forward to it.. in like... 2 expansions lol

[Paladinleeds]

Big long post coming up. Hope you're ready!

I didn't mention anything about gardens. Only the inside of the house. Please don't put words in my mouth. Thank you! <3

That was not my intention to put words into your mouth, but rather to try and bring up points and counterpoints pertaining to the housing aspect. You could say I'm trying to look at the big picture, and the nitty gritty details, at the same time. I apologise for my evidently bad phrasing though. /easternbow

Just because there are gardens on FC houses doesn't mean you have to be able to use them to be in a cross server FC. A majority of people will never have the ability to use cross-breeding gardens even if they're in an FC. I do not allow my members to even mess about the garden without asking ( 1 person is given permission at a time ) to prevent people from removing plants or harvesting things that aren't theirs. The only way everyone will have access to it is if the dev team ever decides to add them to inside housing ( apartments, FC rooms, personal houses ). So I seriously doubt that is high on their concern list. Anyhow... I digress.

Even then, there's simply tending the crops. Which, as I found out, is available to everyone (even if you're not in the FC). Thanks to a neighbour for teaching me that one. Generally speaking, in the FCs I've been in (and I've been in so many I've lost count), everyone had planting permission, but it was harvesting and crop disposal that was more limited. While I do understand your point, my admittedly anecdotal evidence points towards a different setup to what your evidence suggests. And, another thing I noticed is training other chocobos in the stable. I know you didn't mention it, but since we're on the topic of housing gardens here, it's worth bringing up IMO.

The last FC I was in on Odin, actually had people who would feed all the chocobos in the stable to give them experience. It was done pretty frequently too. So I think an FC-wide chocobo stable would be useful for that purpose. Hence why I think it'd be worth allowing a way to access the gardens cross-realm. And thus where instanced housing seems to become a better idea (though someone suggested a way to put the bell, and the market board, in a non-instanced section, to help keep the feeling of community and possibly improve it too), if we're moving to a cross-server FC model.

I just don't think the current housing situation is even workable with the cross-realm FC being put forward. Currently, it's far from ideal and definitely problematic, but at least housing is semi-workable with the current situation. Yes, it needs improvements atm, but with cross-realm FCs, and the FC housing aspect, a rework/fixing of housing would be an absolute necessity for it to be feasible, if you ask me.

As far as FC Chests and so forth.... they're clearly working towards a seamless world and items moving across servers is zero issue seeing as they would allow people to transfer taking /all/ of their items including anything they wished to buy. This is even less hindered now by the removal of the gil limits. There is already programing in place to move items across ( currently just duty ) servers as well, how do you think you get to keep and use your infusions and ethers during raid?

I will certainly admit I didn't fully think that one through. That's a good point. Though currently it only seems to work going in or out of a duty server. Because as I mentioned, when I went to move server, my housing items were deleted that were in the apartment, not moved to storage like what happens if your housing plot is auto-relinquished due to inactivity. Not sure how difficult it'd be to program it in properly, but it's something that would need to be resolved.

While I see your arguments as valid that doesn't change Yoshi's very clear statments about cross server FCs and seamless worlds. This is something they want and is something that will very likely happen in the future. Everything you're concerned about are things they're very likely working on solutions for and will likely be addressed before cross server FCs ever happen....

Oh please don't think I'm not wanting this. I absolutely do want it. I just also want it done right. Not some half-baked implementation that falls flat on its face. The idea of seamless worlds does sound nice, but like I said, I want it done properly. It would definitely be amazing to have. I do also appreciate that you see my arguments as valid, as the aim was to try and put forward valid scenarios that would need to be looked at. I hope you're right about them looking for solutions into and addressing before cross-server FCs become a thing.

There was no time frame stated on this either, it is just something they want to do. So please look forward to it.. in like... 2 expansions lol

Yep, the fact there's no time-frame on this means they have time to get it done right. I agree with the statement though, it is something I would be happy to see. But, would 2 expansions be enough time for them to do it right?