Concerns about the Data Center Redistribution

[Penthea]

I think they should at least delay the datacenter redistribution until 5.0 to allow current statics to play out the rest of this raid tier. If they need time to work out the world visiting feature, fine, but surely they can implement that without changing the datacenters as well ?

Having an expansion launch at the same time as the introduction data centre split and the cross server visitation would be a direct ticket to disaster.

Expansion launches are already very taxing on game servers due to the massive amount of people all trying to play at the same time, as well as any bugs that made it through to launch. Adding the strain of new server features and data centre redistribution on top of that would likely render the game unplayable, potentially for days. I understand that people want more time to sort themselves out, but having the server changes occur with 5.0 launch is a terrible idea.

Where SE really went wrong with this is not telling us sooner. We should have been told at 4.4 launch or even before the summer. But what's done is done. The best thing SE can do now is have the server changes before an expansion launch, which is what they're doing.

I don't understand why they don't just make all plots Large and let people choose what size house to put on it. Small house, large yard. Medium house, medium yard. Large house, small yard. That way nobody has to move, they may just move for a change of scenery or to be closer to friends.

I completely agree that this is what SE should have done with the wards, however changing it to be like that would require a complete redesign of all the housing districts. You can fit four small plots on a large plot. The size difference is crazy, so redesigning wouldn't be a small or quick undertaking. It's possible that giving us a proper instanced housing system would be less work.

This is a plea to implement a better plan to accommodate everyone.

What do you suggest SE should do instead? What do you want to see? Your post very clearly explains your issue with the current situation, but it gives no suggestion on how it could be better.

The housing issue is a tough one. I can't see any way for SE to make it better without doing something like adding even more wards after the data centre split has been done, so that recently transferred players will have a chance to get desirable plots again. Or in some cases a plot at all. There are still some servers with completely full wards.