Petition to Lift Balmung Server Lock / Impact of Server Lock on FFXIV RP Community

[Oaken]

In response to the “lulz, u crazy, dude, where is ur evidence, SE knows everyting and hasn’t made mistake since 1.0, lulz” line of responses, I’ve edited the OP to address that issue:

There is no reasonable basis for anyone to conclude that there is a population problem on Balmung at the present time. SE has presented no data or information about the current population level. Some posters are acting like SE has released concrete information that supports its decision. It has not, and in many instances SE has struggled to accurately report data or made inadvertent errors (i.e. – “FFXIV has surpasses 10 Million Players press release”; 1.0; Diadem, etc.). If you want to believe SE has correctly continued to lock the server, you need more information to reasonably conclude that at the present time. For example, it could state: “There are X active accounts on Balmung within the last 30 days. A FFXIV server can presently handle Y active accounts before server instability becomes a critical issue. Over the past 3 months, Z active accounts have transferred from the server. At this rate, the server will likely be unlocked in U months.” It is likely that SE may be keeping the server locked based on a metric like total number of characters (without taking into account active accounts). It is likely that SE does not understand the full extent of how the server lock is harming FCs, dividing the FFXIV RP community, and creating stagnation, which will ultimately lead to a loss of subscribers. The point of this thread is to point these issues out to SE and give people impacted by these issues a place to voice their concern.

Just a couple questions Oaken, if you have the time.

Thanks for your post. It poses several good questions. Short on time, so forgive typos and conclusory explanations.

1. First off, on what grounds did you assume the right to speak for the Balmung's RP communities? (Yes, plural, communities. Balmung's RP groups split up into subsections like most other RP locale.)

As much as any other member of the RP community. Most observations made in the OP are derived from the observable state of Balmung. There are no queues or server congestion issues at the present time. Without new players, FCs and groups are finding it increasingly difficult to find new members, and most are continuing the trend of turning inwards. Unfortunately, there are no empirical studies or concrete data. But thankfully, basic reasoning and antidotal observation are sufficient to prove the points in the OP. I’m fully aware advocating forcefully against a SE policy may annoy some in the community who have no vested interest in Balmung and simply enjoy trolling the forums to feel better about themselves. I usually avoid online forums for this reason (see post count). Ultimately, who cares? If SE even glances at this post (or another like it), and decides to at least release more information, it will be worth the minimal amount of time it has taken to draft.

2. Did you truly think for more than yourself when making this thread. Are you aware of who you happen to be representing, intentionally or otherwise?

Yes. I made the thread because the server lock is damaging the long-term viability of the FFXIV RP community and causing stagnation on Balmung. It would have been easier to do nothing. I’m well aware that some consider these types of posts pretentious and annoying. Again, who cares? The important thing here is that SE needs to understand that the server lock is harming the community, and players are aware of no valid reasons why the lock is in place. We have seen no data, heard no responses, or any type of concrete update on the issue. You seem intelligent enough to understand that an individual can never really speak for the community, and forming an opinion about an organization based on the personal views of one of its members is immature and stupid (and quite similar to how many RPers hold prejudicial views towards RPers). The RP community has been the subject of Kotaku posts about brothels and ERP. If this post is the tipping point that destroys its reputation, the risk was worth taking. There is nothing unreasonable about the points made in the OP, and one purpose of this forum is to alert the developers to potential issues with the game.

The RP community should not embrace passive, defeatist attitudes and “live with what they have.” We are paying consumers and have every much as right to voice opinions about the game, especially when the size of the community likely exceeds other discrete sects of the community, like players seriously attempting ultimate raiding. You might be content to sit on your hands and hope for the best. Others are not.

3. Have you considered the possibility of there being better, more fruitful efforts to invest your time?

These posts take minimal time and effort. There are plenty of people making attempts to rally RPers and drum up RP. The absence of threads that address the consequences of the server lock and question the validity of SE's decision, however, is alarming. It possibly stems from the contentment many RPers feel with the status quo, and the fear of speaking out against the quo (as shown as the vitriol and trolling displayed in this thread). Creating plotlines and RP events does not address a systemic issue with the server itself: stagnation arising from an excessive and unneeded population control remedy.

4. Have you considered the notion that it may ultimately be the Balmung Rp Community's Responsibility for its own health?

Yes. That is why this post was drafted and many in the community work hard to support the community. It is unfortunate some members of the community adopt a passive approach to this issue, and forget that they have the ability to question unsound policies and advocate for reasonable changes to those policies. Instead of fearing that others will “beat up RPers” or “give people clubs to beat up Balmung,” it is better to address major problems and inequities head on. We’re all nerds playing a six-year old catgirl simulator, after all, and shouldn’t be concerned with others think of us. If the best thing a few forum lurkers can do is post juvenile memes and mock how someone thinks and types, it should be a sign that someone has a decent point. I’d explain more, but I can’t find anymore colorful words in my thesaurus to use. Sorry.

[Keridwyn]

But thankfully, basic reasoning and antidotal observation are sufficient to prove the points in the OP.

Basic reasoning also points to there being a hard cap on the amount of data a server can store and with Balmung's legendary population size a person can quite easily draw the conclusion you were running close to the point of instability.

Secondly I am going to guess you meant anecdotal observation in which case your double standards are delicious. You cannot claim people are making fallacious arguements when your entire argument is based on evidence that is 'not necessarily true or reliable because it is based on personal account rather than research'.

Happily willing to continue a polite debate as long as you realize you are arguing with passion not fact and that not everyone who disagrees is a 'troll'.

[NanaWiloh]

In response to the “lulz, u crazy, dude, where is ur evidence, SE knows everyting and hasn’t made mistake since 1.0, lulz” line of responses, I’ve edited the OP to address that issue:

There is no reasonable basis for anyone to conclude that there is a population problem on Balmung at the present time. SE has presented no data or information about the current population level. Some posters are acting like SE has released concrete information that supports its decision. It has not, and in many instances SE has struggled to accurately report data or made inadvertent errors (i.e. – “FFXIV has surpasses 10 Million Players press release”; 1.0; Diadem, etc.). If you want to believe SE has correctly continued to lock the server, you need more information to reasonably conclude that at the present time. For example, it could state: “There are X active accounts on Balmung within the last 30 days. A FFXIV server can presently handle Y active accounts before server instability becomes a critical issue. Over the past 3 months, Z active accounts have transferred from the server. At this rate, the server will likely be unlocked in U months.” It is likely that SE may be keeping the server locked based on a metric like total number of characters (without taking into account active accounts). It is likely that SE does not understand the full extent of how the server lock is harming FCs, dividing the FFXIV RP community, and creating stagnation, which will ultimately lead to a loss of subscribers. The point of this thread is to point these issues out to SE and give people impacted by these issues a place to voice their concern.



Thanks for your post. It poses several good questions. Short on time, so forgive typos and conclusory explanations.

1. First off, on what grounds did you assume the right to speak for the Balmung's RP communities? (Yes, plural, communities. Balmung's RP groups split up into subsections like most other RP locale.)

As much as any other member of the RP community. Most observations made in the OP are derived from the observable state of Balmung. There are no queues or server congestion issues at the present time. Without new players, FCs and groups are finding it increasingly difficult to find new members, and most are continuing the trend of turning inwards. Unfortunately, there are no empirical studies or concrete data. But thankfully, basic reasoning and antidotal observation are sufficient to prove the points in the OP. I’m fully aware advocating forcefully against a SE policy may annoy some in the community who have no vested interest in Balmung and simply enjoy trolling the forums to feel better about themselves. I usually avoid online forums for this reason (see post count). Ultimately, who cares? If SE even glances at this post (or another like it), and decides to at least release more information, it will be worth the minimal amount of time it has taken to draft.

2. Did you truly think for more than yourself when making this thread. Are you aware of who you happen to be representing, intentionally or otherwise?

Yes. I made the thread because the server lock is damaging the long-term viability of the FFXIV RP community and causing stagnation on Balmung. It would have been easier to do nothing. I’m well aware that some consider these types of posts pretentious and annoying. Again, who cares? The important thing here is that SE needs to understand that the server lock is harming the community, and players are aware of no valid reasons why the lock is in place. We have seen no data, heard no responses, or any type of concrete update on the issue. You seem intelligent enough to understand that an individual can never really speak for the community, and forming an opinion about an organization based on the personal views of one of its members is immature and stupid (and quite similar to how many RPers hold prejudicial views towards RPers). The RP community has been the subject of Kotaku posts about brothels and ERP. If this post is the tipping point that destroys its reputation, the risk was worth taking. There is nothing unreasonable about the points made in the OP, and one purpose of this forum is to alert the developers to potential issues with the game.

The RP community should not embrace passive, defeatist attitudes and “live with what they have.” We are paying consumers and have every much as right to voice opinions about the game, especially when the size of the community likely exceeds other discrete sects of the community, like players seriously attempting ultimate raiding. You might be content to sit on your hands and hope for the best. Others are not.

3. Have you considered the possibility of there being better, more fruitful efforts to invest your time?

These posts take minimal time and effort. There are plenty of people making attempts to rally RPers and drum up RP. The absence of threads that address the consequences of the server lock and question the validity of SE's decision, however, is alarming. It possibly stems from the contentment many RPers feel with the status quo, and the fear of speaking out against the quo (as shown as the vitriol and trolling displayed in this thread). Creating plotlines and RP events does not address a systemic issue with the server itself: stagnation arising from an excessive and unneeded population control remedy.

4. Have you considered the notion that it may ultimately be the Balmung Rp Community's Responsibility for its own health?

Yes. That is why this post was drafted and many in the community work hard to support the community. It is unfortunate some members of the community adopt a passive approach to this issue, and forget that they have the ability to question unsound policies and advocate for reasonable changes to those policies. Instead of fearing that others will “beat up RPers” or “give people clubs to beat up Balmung,” it is better to address major problems and inequities head on. We’re all nerds playing a six-year old catgirl simulator, after all, and shouldn’t be concerned with others think of us. If the best thing a few forum lurkers can do is post juvenile memes and mock how someone thinks and types, it should be a sign that someone has a decent point. I’d explain more, but I can’t find anymore colorful words in my thesaurus to use. Sorry.

Thank you for a more reasonable and less condsending post in comparison to the original. I want to adress one subject in your post and that is the need for more information from SE. Your asking a company too give information or data that could be harmful too their servers. There are security risks involved with releasing server info to the public, giving exact server caps for example while may seem innocent. To a person with the right knowledge and malicous intent it is a gold mine of information. If you want more information then you need tell them what exactly it is you want to see. just keep in mind they wont risk security just too calm the curiousity of disgruntled players. So you may or may not get what your seeking if you ask.

[Mahrze]

4. Have you considered the notion that it may ultimately be the Balmung Rp Community's Responsibility for its own health?

Yes. That is why this post was drafted and many in the community work hard to support the community. It is unfortunate some members of the community adopt a passive approach to this issue, and forget that they have the ability to question unsound policies and advocate for reasonable changes to those policies. Instead of fearing that others will “beat up RPers” or “give people clubs to beat up Balmung,” it is better to address major problems and inequities head on. We’re all nerds playing a six-year old catgirl simulator, after all, and shouldn’t be concerned with others think of us. If the best thing a few forum lurkers can do is post juvenile memes and mock how someone thinks and types, it should be a sign that someone has a decent point. I’d explain more, but I can’t find anymore colorful words in my thesaurus to use. Sorry.

Based on this post that I quoted and the sentence I underlined. It seems it really is a community effort (the RP community gathering together to see the issue and the possible solutions) vs SE trying to offer an equal experience across the board (Because you're not the only population in Balmung nor the only paying customers). Unofficial census sources point at Balmung being very overpopulated and the one server many people want to go to, and for that the RP community has put the noose on themselves.

• Should the sever be unlocked? They (SE) will decide that with the data they have available. But with the RP community continuously trying to gather on one spot, lockdowns are something you can see happen.
• Should there be an RP Server? Maybe, the bigger question is regarding people who do something more than RP in x server. I am sure people who RP do more than just that (OOC is the term used iirc) and they might not like moving elsewhere, so you have a conundrum where I am sure there's enough people in the RP community that have that same issue and as such, likely disagree with this, even with the datacenter FL and tell option.
• Should I keep doing this? Of course you do, you have every right to express your opinion and concern, but as much as you seem to try to represent the community you're trying to be vocal for, you're just adding fuel to the flame that antagonizes you. We tend to get what we ask for, the issue is always the way we ask for it.

[SinisterJoints]

There is no reasonable basis for anyone to conclude that there is a population problem on Balmung at the present time.

Except maybe the recent census that was just posted showing balmung at 22k active players. The closest server to that IIRC is 16k.(sure its not by SE, but if your "facts" are legit then so is the census"

Yea, im thinking balmung needs to stay locked.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Is it just me or does the OP sound like someone gave Trump a thesaurus?

[Xerek]

I am a RPer on Balmung, and have been there since Besaid was folded into it. So the OP cannot claim I know nothing of the RP community. Having established that...

The OP's assertion is ridiculous. Anyone supporting SE is foolish for doing so blindly...yet by not providing any proof, the OP is asking for that same blind loyalty to his ideal. So, blind loyalty is apparently only foolish when it's given to SE, but makes perfect sense when given to the OP.

Sorry, if it comes down to trusting SE, who alone have access to server data and have already shown they are monitoring the situation and recently unlocked Gilgamesh or trusting someone that is screaming Balmung needs to be unlocked without providing any evidence at all that the server can support it and attacks anyone with the hubris to disagree...SE gets the benefit of the doubt. Now if actual evidence is presented, I'm open to reconsideration.

[Nalfein]

I rolled my eyes so hard at OP's pathetic attempt to write the perfect essay in order to counter every possible replies on the forum.

[Shouko]

"Reasonable people who can think for themselves are not content to believe a proposition without evidence. At the end of the day, there is no evidence of that Balmung's current population levels are detrimental or excessive. There are no queues or technical issues. The lock is causing stagnation and fragmenting FFXIV's RP community into increasingly isolated communities that will accelerate stagnation. Pointing to a decision made six months ago by your benevolent technocrat under a completely different set of circumstances and declaring your blind loyalty to that technocrat proves nothing other than your own ignorance. "

Correct there isn't any evidence and you haven't provided any either, even though you claim to have said evidence. Correct me if i'm wrong but in order to prove something is wrong it's not the job of the person being accused of being wrong to prove that you're correct but it's your job to prove they're wrong. Cite your sources, provide your evidence or shut up.

[Titor]

I don't even care about the rp here, the server itself is just starting to stagnate. I run a non rp FC and its hard to get new members. Most fc-less people right now are those that like to play solo and won't join a FC, or people that have been removed from their prior FC for undesirable reasons.

We need some fresh blood. Not just for RP, but for low level zones, open world fates like foxy lady and ixion, novice network, social scene health, and just in general.