Hydaelyn Role-Players
An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Printable Version

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RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Unnamed Mercenary - 06-06-2017

I think the subject's important, but your OP post did come off a bit more accusatory than likely intended. I don't think anyone here is going to hold it against you. Many have expressed frustrations with trying to get a character in.

Balmung was pretty full from the start, but only because it had already had a pre-existing community from when it was Besaid. And then it grew more when A Realm Reborn launched. I remember having to tell friends when they needed to be awake to make a character. By the time I got into RP, we started having dedicated threads to tell people when Balmung was open and when to try getting into Balmung. (They were retired more or less when the server eventually hit transfer-only status.) But even once we hit transfers-only, which really should have sent a proper warning sign to SE, the population increased by a few thousand active players, which made the problem worse. (Really, SE should have locked it down back then so all these threads would have happened much earlier.)

What I'd recommend now is check some of the other server options. There are some RPers on Jenova, which I see is marked as your server here. Not large swaths, but a smaller community. Mateus has also been pretty active on the RPC recently as they work on making their server welcoming for RPers as well. If you haven't, I'd check them out or some of the servers listed in the Alternate RP Directory.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Faye - 06-07-2017

You cannot expect people to transfer away from the server they love, are ingrained in, and know is a successful and stable RP community when you were not even willing to transfer onto said server.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Tyndles - 06-07-2017

Comparing this situation to the Wyrmrest/Moon Guard situation is not accurate because this game lacks something that WoW has, and that's RP tags.

WoW actively directed the entire population to places. You only have grass roots movements that I do hope are successful, but it's just not the same.

If FFXIV decides to slap an RP tag on a low pop/new server that's where people will go. Everyone. Balmung included. It may take a while but people will migrate. ESPECIALLY if they offer a transfer of housing too.

But I honestly think everyone that puts RP as their primary reason for playing the game would go even if they have to start without a house and can only take what their characters/retainers can bring.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Solenne - 06-07-2017

So, at this point everything has been said, but I'm going to ramble on for a while anyway. Angel First, I just want to confirm that exciting things are happening on Mateus. I'm just an outsider looking in right now, but I've already seen a lot of promise in that community. When there's a lull after SB's launch and I'm no longer frantically working on my Balmung characters, I intend to spend more time on my Mateus alt.

Having said that, the suggestion that all Balmung RPers should be jumping at the chance to uproot themselves and move to a new server shows a lack of understanding of the depth of our community and the dozens or even hundreds of ties many of us have on our server. I've been playing on Balmung since shortly after HW launched, so I'm not one of the server's old guard. Still, you can meet a lot of people and put down some pretty deep roots in two years. Three members of my immediate family have characters on Balmung. My girlfriend's characters are there. I'm part of the leadership of an RP FC, and I've put a lot of energy, creativity, and tears into it over the past 18 months. Since I don't have a large (or, let's face it, even moderate) network of local friends, my FC is my main social outlet. I log in every day, greet my friends, family, and girlfriend, and feel like I'm at home. 

Leaving all that behind wouldn't be a quick or simple decision for me. It would feel a bit like deciding to pack up all my belongings and move across state lines. It would impact my life in some rather profound ways. I'm not going to make that decision just because someone thinks it's unfair that I could afford the transfer fee when I first started playing and was able to establish myself on this server.

Having said that, I know there are RPers currently on Balmung who are interested in transferring. There are people ready and willing to do the exact thing OP wants, so we should all be cheering them on instead of acting like they don't exist. From what I've seen and heard, the RP community on Balmung is already doing its part in various ways to support a second RP server. Let's stay positive and continue to assist in that effort instead of making unproductive complaints.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Y'raya - 06-07-2017

I'm basically just regretting ever posting this now. It didn't come off the way I wanted it to, which was as a plea to those who might be considering helping start up the second server or on the fence, as opposed to whining or attacking. I wasn't saying I didn't want to put in effort, I meant to say that help from those who are already here would be good. I didn't mean to upset those with firm roots, or who might fear a mass exodus, as I've been in both those situations before (having watched Shadow Council, Steamwheedle Cartel, Earthen Ring, and Sisters of Elune all go down). And some of these responses already feel like they've lashed back at me to the point that I dread seeing alerts up in the corner of my screen. I'm just going to keep working on starting up somewhere, helping foster a new community, enjoying roleplaying, and exploring other places in the forums.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Momo - 06-07-2017

I'm not going to be that nice about this. The fee isn't much, and it transfers all your character slots should you make place holders or more than one character. Even a younger age, should I have genuinely wanted to join the server, I could have saved the minimal fee money to do so somehow. And just by seeing what was going on with Balmung, all the characters, groups, and events, I would have known it was well worth the fee to transfer in. I just don't see a pay wall of that small an amount as an excuse why someone couldn't join, and if you are truly in straights that dire, I would question your ability to afford the sub period, and that you should have stabilized your income in-general before playing an MMO with a sub instead of a standalone game.

Secondly, one should not feel encouraged or somehow empowered to dislike Balmung because of envy or even the few voices that gather to be naysayers of the server that they are a part of, or once were a part of. Those people, like the ones on Mateus who left Balmung for some sort of "promised land" or New World, are the ones who either couldn't hack general RP interaction and connection building, and wanted it easy, or those who had some bad experiences and instead of persevering, decided to just write the whole sever off and treat every person who came from that server with disdain. 

Lastly, the problems with Balmung, the "stalking" or "all ERP" blah blah and all that nonsense, is a problem with Balmung's size and a lack of ability to read and disengage from situations which are harmful not just for the character but for the RPer. So when everyone, or most people move to Mateus, draw clear lines in the sand for yourself as a character and RPer. Check comfort levels before starting interactions, ask intent also. I feel like most RP guides that have been listed over the years probably have these are main points of their suggestions, but so many do not follow them. When you want to RP with a person or character, do your research! Not just about the character, but about the RPer as well. There are people on the server who have been in the community a very long time (some in this thread), and may seem established and worth your time, but after a little research you will find that not to be the case. Let the "going in blind" aspect of your RP, be the part where you are unsure exactly how your characters will hit it off.

Balmung is, and has been worth every penny of investment into it for me. I am entertained, I have good gameplay and RP to thank daily, I have found few other things I enjoy more. There is nothing inherently wrong with Balmung, it may not be for everyone, but perhaps it is the approach which defines the right fit, rather than just the server itself. Your RP will always be what you make of it.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Unnamed Mercenary - 06-07-2017

(06-07-2017, 01:06 PM)SoMuchY Wrote: I dread seeing alerts up in the corner of my screen.

I can at least offer you a solution for this.

In your User CP, head over to Alert Settings. You'll see a bunch of checkboxes for things you'll get alerted for. Uncheck the one for threads you've created. Check the ones for subscribed threads so you can opt-in on them. (Of if like me, you auto-subscribe to threads you post in).

[Image: LAGhkJm.png]

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Zhavi - 06-07-2017

You can also request the mods to lock the thread, if you feel the discussion has run its course or otherwise gone off the tracks from what you intended.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Sylentmana - 06-07-2017

I think that the OP's message has largely been misunderstood or perhaps, in some cases, purposefully misrepresented by those who don't truly wish to listen. The fact of the matter is that there are people who want to participate in an RP community that is free and open; create a character and go. Balmung is not that.

Balmung is far too full and inaccessible to those new to the community as well as those wishing to play a new role. You shouldn't have to pay a transfer fee in order to enjoy your hobby with others. I don't care if the fee is only 1 cent. You still shouldn't have to pay it.

What the OP is doing, as I understand it, is not a beratement of the Balmung community, but a call for assistance in setting up a secondary RP server. You don't even need to transfer. If all you did was set up an alt on this new server and devote some time to RPing there, it would go a long way toward building this new community. You have a right to refuse to help your fellow RPers and go about your business, but in that case, the only thing you help build is resentment.

I have a character on Balmung with an established group of friends that I RP with, but I also know people who want to participate but can't due to the server being so full. I'll be making alts on Mateus and playing them, so why can't some of you do the same to help this new community grow?

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Solenne - 06-07-2017

(06-07-2017, 01:12 PM)Momo Wrote: I'm not going to be that nice about this. The fee isn't much, and it transfers all your character slots should you make place holders or more than one character. Even a younger age, should I have genuinely wanted to join the server, I could have saved the minimal fee money to do so somehow. And just by seeing what was going on with Balmung, all the characters, groups, and events, I would have known it was well worth the fee to transfer in. I just don't see a pay wall of that small an amount as an excuse why someone couldn't join, and if you are truly in straights that dire, I would question your ability to afford the sub period, and that you should have stabilized your income in-general before playing an MMO with a sub instead of a standalone game.

I just have to reply to this because I'm sick of seeing people make this argument. This is an extremely privileged opinion. I've known people who budgeted very, very carefully to be able to afford their monthly sub, and even then, sometimes they had to let it lapse for a month or two when an unexpected expense came up. Eighteen dollars might not seem like much to you, but for some people, it can be the difference between solvency and overdrawing their bank account. 

Also, making judgments about what kinds of games other people should invest in given their financial situation is presumptuous. If someone enjoys playing FFXIV enough to make room for it in a very tight budget, good for them. They deserve nice things too.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Greenley - 06-07-2017

(06-07-2017, 03:47 PM)Solenne Wrote:
(06-07-2017, 01:12 PM)Momo Wrote: I'm not going to be that nice about this. The fee isn't much, and it transfers all your character slots should you make place holders or more than one character. Even a younger age, should I have genuinely wanted to join the server, I could have saved the minimal fee money to do so somehow. And just by seeing what was going on with Balmung, all the characters, groups, and events, I would have known it was well worth the fee to transfer in. I just don't see a pay wall of that small an amount as an excuse why someone couldn't join, and if you are truly in straights that dire, I would question your ability to afford the sub period, and that you should have stabilized your income in-general before playing an MMO with a sub instead of a standalone game.

I just have to reply to this because I'm sick of seeing people make this argument. This is an extremely privileged opinion. I've known people who budgeted very, very carefully to be able to afford their monthly sub, and even then, sometimes they had to let it lapse for a month or two when an unexpected expense came up. Eighteen dollars might not seem like much to you, but for some people, it can be the difference between solvency and overdrawing their bank account. 

Also, making judgments about what kinds of games other people should invest in given their financial situation is presumptuous. If someone enjoys playing FFXIV enough to make room for it in a very tight budget, good for them. They deserve nice things too.


I second this. I rarely use  terms such as privileged and gatekeeping because in my eyes they are more and more becoming embellished buzzwords thrown around by teenagers and adults who ofttimes act like teenagers. Having said that, if this isn't an example of both, I don't know what it is. 

I respect your fierce honesty, Momo, as I'm of the opinion it's something the world needs a lot more of when constructive. But this isn't, nor is it a matter of not being "nice." You are speaking out of ignorance for the lives of those not as fortunate as yourself. 

I for one was not only ready to pay to get into Balmung but to pay for four of my friends' server switches as well. To some of them, $18 is quite a bit of money. This does not and should not bar them from being able to play a game that makes them happy. Happy people are productive people. Happy people are those who have the energy / good spirits / inspiration to change their lives for the better. 

I'm not going to be nice about this: If you feel you have the right to judge how people spend their money and leisure time because they don't have as much of it as you, because their situation is not as you put as stabilized as yours, you're acting like a jerk. While honesty is something to be proud of, that is not.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Erah'sae - 06-07-2017

Eh, the $18 wall is a mixed bag.  Yes, there was(/is/will be?) an additional barrier of entry to Balmung.  Yes for a number of people I know it sucked and required re-prioritization to get past it.  (Sometimes even taking a month or so off of the game to allocate that subscription money towards the transfer fee.)

It's also one of the reasons I actually broke down and moved to Balmung.  I can actually turn tells on in Balmung where as on a few other servers (my old home of Cactaur being one) the gil seller spam started about about 30 seconds logged in time and drowned out any meaningful use of the system (unless you broke TOS and installed something to hook into the chat stream and apply a reg-ex spam filter.  Got banned for that one once)

There is effort and cost to create anonymous harassment alts that just vanish after their job is done here. There's a sense of permanence to reputation instead of the 'throw away alt' problem that many other servers / games have.

So yeah, it's an interesting topic.  Yes it puts a barrier of 'economic privilege' to the server, but it also prevents a lot of abuse.  

Granted if SE would actually get off it's backside and do something about the problems (implement an in game spam filter like Blizzard did for instance) half of this would be a moot point.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - IvikBlack - 06-07-2017

Mateus is already doing its best. It was doing its best to foster an RP community before Balmung transfers were locked, and it'll keep doing its best after they're unlocked.

If you want to help us succeed, transfer or make an alt. I run an FC there made up entirely of transplants, we'd be happy to have you even if you split your playtime between there and another server.

The other arguments I just have no interest in getting into.

PM me if you want details.

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Aysun - 06-07-2017

As one of the "old guard" folks who came from 1.0's Besaid community, there really is something else that was not brought up.

The mighty "we" I will be using is a general term. I am not speaking for everyone.

When 2.0 came out and people started talking about a secondary RP server, I was one of the ones who was vehemently against it. Fracturing the RP community was absolutely incomprehensible to me. The RPers absolutely had to stick together or we'd never make it. Why? Because 1.0's RP community was SO SMALL and that was all I knew. I had no idea that this community would need to be fractured. I could never have imagined a community as large as what we have now.

The mindset of a united community being necessary took time to shake off for a lot of us I imagine, not just me. We were also comfortable where we were, and just unconcerned maybe. In that time, Gilgamesh tried and failed, we kept encouraging people to just transfer onto Balmung as the windows of time where character creation was available shrunk and disappeared.

We did act too late to encourage new people to begin growing a new community. Absolutely. We're trying to do that now, but somehow sending people to the new chosen servers is not enough support? I don't have time to make an alt and invest myself on another server (though I did make my character on Mateus for visiting) and like many others, I'm not leaving my home on Balmung to help a small community grow, as much as I want to see them succeed.

The character lock blindsided everyone. We're trying to do what we can now that SE has forced our hands. There will be people who transfer their mains to the smaller servers. A place to start fresh, to help grow something, but don't come after those of us who can't. It's not like we're not trying to be supportive in other ways.

(When the new format comes around for the RPC, I imagine it is going to be very multi-server friendly too and will help grow these smaller communities!)

RE: An Essay on the Balmung "Problem" - Sylentmana - 06-08-2017

Imagine each server as an apartment. Balmung is an apartment that houses a particular group of people who have formed into a community of sorts within the building. This community attracts the attention of others who wish to join, but there's a problem. The apartment has become full. Sure, you can still bribe the landlord to let you in, but by this point people are sleeping in the halls.

Now, those that can't get in or can't pay the bribe decide to build their own apartment next door. Unfortunately, their on they're own as the city refuses to help and there are no contractors available. So these people, faced with an extremely difficult and daunting task, go next door to the overpopulated apartment to ask for people in their shared community to give of some of their time to come over and help them build.

The people of Balmung Apartments smile and say "We support your endeavors" but refuse to actually leave for a bit to help with the construction. "We don't have time," they say. "We're to busy doing what we want to do. Our fun comes first." On and on it goes like this for months with the same lines, putting themselves first instead. "Don't blame us," they say. "Its not our fault the apartments are full. Its not our fault that we would rather spend our time on ourselves."

Now, Balmung Apartments are so full that people are sleeping on the porches and hanging from the gutters. Meanwhile, the neighbors over on Mateus Lots do their best to build themselves a home. Its a shame so few are willing to help.

TL;DR
Mateus: Hey guys. Could some of you donate a few hours each week to help us build a second RP communtiy for those who can't get into Balmung?
Balmung: Here's some lip service of support, but fuck you, we got ours. Do it yourself.