Hydaelyn Role-Players

I'll toss my feelings in with the rest here.

So far it seems like there are some Legacy players whose roleplay does not interest me all that much, however all of the ones I've encountered have been nothing but friendly folks and helpful on this site, patient with newbies and informative with regard to the lore.

I say this because I see the number of server choices as being rather unfortunate for this community, as many people I've seen who are going to Gilgamesh seem to be doing so because of some beef with "Legacy players" (Some of them? All of them? No one's been all that specific). The people going to Behemoth are definitely doing so because they don't like this community, I hear.

But I'm not going to talk about Legacy players and their detractors. If we take them out of the equation, there's not a great reason to choose Balmung over Gilgamesh, or Gilgamesh over Balmung. I'm not even all that worried about griefers, because I've never been worried about griefers--I don't even blacklist them unless they get spammy while I'm typing.

So to me it just looks like there's not a good choice or a bad one, one way or the other, and the fact that there is a choice at all only serves to divide this community and foster loyalism, as people in this thread defend their server choice and make inferences about the server they didn't choose.

I'm discouraged by this community attitude.


@Toxa, I think the worst thing people could do now is vote for a new server. And Rock is right--there will be griefers everywhere. You learn to deal with them or you learn to ignore them, but it's rare that there are ever enough of them to really drive roleplayers out or meaningfully disrupt a roleplaying community. They aren't the norm.

@Rock, no offense, but the Wyrmrest Accord server is not a good example of a thriving server for Gilgamesh to aspire to by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe that server started as a shining bastion of hope for folks who were fed up with Moonguard and Thorium Brotherhood and elsewhere, but hostility and resentment resulted in that community practically closing its gates to new players and each other in later years, becoming a collection of isolated guilds floating in the aether.

I don't know how it's faring nowadays, but that's why I'm suspicious of communities that splinter away from larger communities due to some kind of strife.

I also don't think it's fair to say that the OP here has made their server choice. I like to think that there are many people like me who are still trying to decide, still feeling out the elements of this community in order to make a server choice that--make no mistake--is rather difficult.

We stand to lose out on roleplay with cool people either way unless we make a character on both servers, and then comes the often unrealistic expectation that we're able to sustain characters on both servers equally. That is quite a task. Further, for many it will come down to where their friends go, and some stand to leave friends behind if not all of ones friends choose the same server.


I'm not offering any answers here, I'm sorry to say. I only wanted to offer my perspective as a newcomer, because I think that a lot of the members here may be able to relate.

It shouldn't matter what server anyone chooses to go to.

If you're on the server they choose, great! You have new people to RP with.

If they go to the server you're not on, great! Other people have new people to RP with.

What. Does. It. Matter?

We're all trying to make this community the best it can be, and if that means there are two places to choose from, all the better. Because people are right, Balmung may not live up to your expectations. And Gilgamesh may be more difficult to establish yourself in. But I'm sure either one will fit someone.

I cannot stress this enough...TRY THEM BOTH. Make a character on each, see if you like the styles of RP there. Find the place that is best FOR YOU.

And to those of you contributing, there is NO sense in trying to sway people one way or another. You don't know anyone else's reasons. You don't know why they've made the choices they have. You can't get inside of their head space and understand them fully. That doesn't mean that you have to try badgering them into one place or another (not that this has happened lately, I just want to say that it very well could happen again).

Be happy for wherever new people decide to go, because at least they are going somewhere. They could decide to play a different game...then you could be sad. But if they're making our home with us, at least they're a part of our extended family, even if they end up being that weird cousin you see twice a year at the family reunion. Because seriously, what family would be complete without drunk cousin Randy?

I fear that we might get to the point where battle lines will be drawn in the sand and flame wars will commence. Soon people will disregard the whole notion of picking both servers to see which one they're more comfortable with. Truth be told, we're slowly heading towards the movement of propaganda pamphlets littering the RPC's cobblestone streets with embolden messages that jump off the page saying, "Uncle Balmung or Aunt Gilgamesh wants you!" 

The wary travelers sail in upon our majestic shoreline, confused, but with every right to be about what all the commotion is about. Secondary? Primary? With two pints in hand, a random inhabitant trots along the pier and slings one ale sodden arm over the shoulder of the starry-eyed adventure. "Come my friend! Welcome to Hydaelyn Roleplayers Coalition. Allow me to explain to you the current political situation of our humble abode and why Balmung(or Gilgamesh) is right for you."

In the meantime, before it's come to that, we have topics like this with the words that start off with, "Hello I'm not trying to stoke any flames..." but in the same action hand you flint and tender while pointing you in the direction of the firewood.

(07-17-2013, 11:47 AM)Yaein Mayweather Wrote: [ -> ]I fear that we might get to the point where battle lines will be drawn in the sand and flame wars will commence. Soon people will disregard the whole notion of picking both servers to see which one they're more comfortable with. Truth be told, we're slowly heading towards the movement of propaganda pamphlets littering the RPC's cobblestone streets with embolden messages that jump off the page saying, "Uncle Balmung or Aunt Gilgamesh wants you!" 

The wary travelers sail in upon our majestic shoreline, confused, but with every right to be about what all the commotion is about. Secondary? Primary? With two pints in hand, a random inhabitant trots along the pier and slings one ale sodden arm over the shoulder of the starry-eyed adventure. "Come my friend! Welcome to Hydaelyn Roleplayers Coalition. Allow me to explain to you the current political situation of our humble abode and why Balmung(or Gilgamesh) is right for you."

In the meantime, before it's come to that, we have topics like this with the words that start off with, "Hello I'm not trying to stoke any flames..." but in the same action hand you flint and tender while pointing you in the direction of the firewood.

That is the most beautiful thing I have ever read. Thank you.

(07-17-2013, 11:47 AM)Yaein Mayweather Wrote: [ -> ]I fear that we might get to the point where battle lines will be drawn in the sand and flame wars will commence. Soon people will disregard the whole notion of picking both servers to see which one they're more comfortable with. Truth be told, we're slowly heading towards the movement of propaganda pamphlets littering the RPC's cobblestone streets with embolden messages that jump off the page saying, "Uncle Balmung or Aunt Gilgamesh wants you!" 

The wary travelers sail in upon our majestic shoreline, confused, but with every right to be about what all the commotion is about. Secondary? Primary? With two pints in hand, a random inhabitant trots along the pier and slings one ale sodden arm over the shoulder of the starry-eyed adventure. "Come my friend! Welcome to Hydaelyn Roleplayers Coalition. Allow me to explain to you the current political situation of our humble abode and why Balmung(or Gilgamesh) is right for you."

In the meantime, before it's come to that, we have topics like this with the words that start off with, "Hello I'm not trying to stoke any flames..." but in the same action hand you flint and tender while pointing you in the direction of the firewood.

+1

(07-17-2013, 11:05 AM)Alothia Wrote: [ -> ]It shouldn't matter what server anyone chooses to go to.

If you're on the server they choose, great! You have new people to RP with.

If they go to the server you're not on, great! Other people have new people to RP with.

What. Does. It. Matter?

We're all trying to make this community the best it can be, and if that means there are two places to choose from, all the better. Because people are right, Balmung may not live up to your expectations. And Gilgamesh may be more difficult to establish yourself in.  But I'm sure either one will fit someone.

I cannot stress this enough...TRY THEM BOTH. Make a character on each, see if you like the styles of RP there. Find the place that is best FOR YOU.

And to those of you contributing, there is NO sense in trying to sway people one way or another. You don't know anyone else's reasons. You don't know why they've made the choices they have. You can't get inside of their head space and understand them fully. That doesn't mean that you have to try badgering them into one place or another (not that this has happened lately, I just want to say that it very well could happen again).

Be happy for wherever new people decide to go, because at least they are going somewhere. They could decide to play a different game...then you could be sad. But if they're making our home with us, at least they're a part of our extended family, even if they end up being that weird cousin you see twice a year at the family reunion. Because seriously, what family would be complete without drunk cousin Randy?

If everybody had this attitude, there wouldn't be a problem with having conversations about this issue without threads needing to be locked or lines in sand being drawn. It's called a community because it encompasses everyone, even *gasp* people we may dislike or disagree with.

For all the concerns about those communities, I'm sure there are concerns about ours.  We are who we are, and we will make the impresions we want to.

Our Company is dedicated to RPvE more then city/tavern RP, and we're welcoming people.  We're currently looking into an IC and OOC alliance system and will be actively looking for other Companies to RP with.  We hit it off, and we can invite them into the alliance.  Finding other people to RP with becomes easier if you're carrying an alliance linkpearl and have access to multiple guilds.

Give the other groups a chance.  RPers can be seen as elite and intimidating?  Well, we show them we're not.  And in doing so may even be able to draw in some new RPers and at the very least hopefully improving their opinion of this.

Leave your preconcieved opinions at the door.  Hopefully the other groups will as well and we can not only coexist, but become stronger as a result.

...see you on Gilgamesh.

---

Also, keep your fingers crossed that SE gives us a dedicated RP server, solving the problem outright.  There was discussion of it...

I wonder how many more of these threads we will see before release...?

Personally I think we are just damaging ourselves as a community as we peck at one another's choices we should just make it a non-topic and try to refrain from posting opinions but band together as ARR RP'ers.  We are already a minority compared to the overall population and can ill afford to bicker amongst ourselves.

This division and constant new topics about it serves none of us well, I have said it before and I will say it again your choice of server is nothing to do with the kind of rp'er or player you are its merely about legacy vs non legacy and in six months that will be irrelevant to either choice since the server economies and character levels will be approximately the same on both.

Lets just stop the talk about primary or better server for RP and call them both good alternatives to each other.

Pushing again the "try both" philosophy because it deserves to be repeated. The option exists to be tried for those of us with the power of tabula rasa.

I also want to put forward something I notice doesn't get much play whenever this discussion comes up. All of us who have the choice between Gilgamesh and Balmung are extremely privileged. All of us who have the choice to say whether we want Legacy or non-Legacy are extremely privileged. Because we're newer, we can do what we want to do. We're literally spoiled for choice with the community's decision to be in two places rather than one because we have our pick of two differently evolving and special worlds.

The 1.0 players who wish to continue the characters they've so diligently played for 2-3 years don't have that choice, so whenever this topic comes up, I feel horrible for them. Every time this comes up, we highlight the choice that isn't fair for them to make given all the work they've already put into their characters during the worst of times. It's honestly heartbreaking. So, whenever this topic comes up again and again in all its different iterations, I just want everyone to remember that. That we with the choice are the lucky ones.

Exercise your choice. Try both, but don't rely on those of us who have made our choices to make yours for you. It's your privilege to do that for yourself.

(07-17-2013, 01:08 PM)C Wrote: [ -> ]Pushing again the "try both" philosophy because it deserves to be repeated. The option exists to be tried for those of us with the power of tabula rasa.
*snip*
Exercise your choice. Try both, but don't rely on those of us who have made our choices to make yours for you. It's your privilege to do that for yourself.

Yup, just this. Again.

I will say, despite shaking my head at how many times these threads pop up...I'm glad that some of people have toned back their posts a bit. There were some ah...passionate people (on both sides) that really weren't coming across or presenting themselves the way I'd like to think they wanted to. Putting down another server doesn't mean people will want to come play on yours, nor does it help the community as a whole.

Heh, don't feel too bad about Legacy players stuck on Balmung. Some of us are rerolling on Gilg and others are simply rolling alts there so we still have choices.

(07-17-2013, 01:25 PM)Asyria Wrote: [ -> ]Heh, don't feel too bad about Legacy players stuck on Balmung. Some of us are rerolling on Gilg and others are simply rolling alts there so we still have choices.

Shhhh, you totally ruined my dramatic moment!

Although I'm glad that some of you are finding a way to enjoy and eat your cake, . It's still a more limited option of possibly leaving behind your 1.0 self, but it's something I guess. Not something for everyone, but something.

Hello. Ryuusuizen's other half here.

Thank you for all the insight and I'm sorry if the thread upset some. That wasn't the intention at all.

We have friends that also plan to play with us. I can't speak for Ryuusuizen's friends but some of my friends don't want to deal with the 4chan/reddit crowd (after putting up with it in other games), some don't want to go to a legacy server and some don't care one way or another where we go.

They put it on us to choose a server that fits their criteria. What was once a sure choice isn't anymore. Its a difficult position to be in since one way or another, someone is likely to be unhappy with the decision.

(07-17-2013, 02:40 PM)Xieveral Wrote: [ -> ]Hello. Ryuusuizen's other half here.

Thank you for all the insight and I'm sorry if the thread upset some. That wasn't the intention at all.

We have friends that also plan to play with us. I can't speak for Ryuusuizen's friends but some of my friends don't want to deal with the 4chan/reddit crowd (after putting up with it in other games), some don't want to go to a legacy server and some don't care one way or another where we go.

They put it on us to choose a server that fits their criteria. What was once a sure choice isn't anymore. Its a difficult position to be in since one way or another, someone is likely to be unhappy with the decision.

Personally, I did not believe that you intended to stir the pot. It's just been a hot topic as of late.

Threads that begin with "Hello I'm not trying to stoke any flames..." are a symptom of the issue we need to address, not the cause. Folks need to remember that before they make any determinations about the OP.

That said, it's good that people are going out of their way to stifle these flames before they start.


Anyway~

The problem you're facing with your server choice is one of long-term issues.

Will the qualities of a Legacy server corrupt the economy, the community, the number of lowbies in lowbie zones? Personally, I think it's highly unlikely. In a few months, the term "Legacy server" will mean nothing, because Legacy players are after all in limited supply, and so is their money. Of these, many of them will re-roll on other servers anyway, or roll new characters. The pre-established community is not a negative either, but a positive, because near as anyone can tell it's a healthy community. Time will tell more certainly, however.

Likewise, will a server that is popular among 4chan and Reddit users result in a caustic and hostile community for players and roleplayers alike? Probably not. Those are big communities, but as we all certainly must know, there is a loud and vulgar minority that often represents a community improperly to outsiders. It is just as plausible that Gilgamesh will receive an influx of Redditors and folks from /v/ who are helpful and skillful with the game, and tolerant of the way others play. Perhaps such a crowd is less receptive of roleplayers, but that could also be due to our poor representation to them. Time will tell more certainly, however.

Are your friends gambling folk? Lay this information on them and tell them which scenario they'd rather take a gamble on. It could help for them to see the choices available from every angle, and to consider whether these are legitimate concerns or whether they're simply being pessimistic.

My concern with both reddit and 4chan heading to Gilgamesh is that they're both pretty large communities where the internet is concerned. Does that mean Gilgamesh's population is going to be disproportionately oversized, possibly leading to server or queue issues?

I really don't care that they have a high proportion of jerks that think they're hilarious. And I don't even care about having a larger population in general, because larger pops means less chance of sitting in a big open space all alone. But I really don't want to have half my buddies stuck at login screen or dealing with server crashes. We'd already decided not to go with Balmung due to the "tabula rasa" effect. And we've been looking at other servers since learning this, but... eergh. Inconvenient. That's what it is.