A history in server merging - Why SE is creating an overcomplicated mess.

[Xeonerable]

This game is proving to be a giant overly complicated mess in itself. lol
Its like SE's production motto for this game is "if it can be annoying, it will be annoying."

[lordvr]

The reason something like what Rift did wasn't chosen because they fear about EU players not being able to all get to the same server if other players chose to transfer there, or something like that. Basically EU is to blame for everything.

[Northman]

TOR style was not mentioned. There you can select every login which server to play in. You have even test server to see beforehand what will happen in future and help finding bugs. I have understood that all servers are in Japan. It should not be too difficult to allow this kind system. Think how many ls to join and cultures to visit this way.
This kind merge will lead to even worse situation. Some servers too full and some even more empty. And when 2.0 comes with masses of new players - the removed servers are needed back. It would not need much sw to transfer the player parameters between servers within login.

[ShinChuck]

Game: Rift
System used: Players are given a suggested server to join but are free to join a different one if they wish
Source

See the pattern here? These are all standardized and acceptable ways to deal with underpopulated servers.

So why, why are you going out of your way to make this as much of a problem as possible? Why are we forced to divide communities and split because you're don't want to name the new servers and or give us a manageable system like every other MMO has done in the past... including your own?

Exactly, and the time limit is another issue. Rift, as far as I know, has that choice indefinitely. If you quit now (for financial reasons, life issues, who knows), and your server poofs meanwhile, when you return, this is still the option you're given. It's not "Oops, waited to long, you're out of luck, loser!"

[Leigh]

Checkout XIVPads server merge directory, should be useful if things carry on the way they are.