Cheers for your post. It was very neutral, no sides taken, and has managed not to upset me as most of these topics do. xDD So kudos and thank you for being tactful!
I'm also speaking with bias, as my home has been Besaid/Balmung from the get-go, however looking at it from an outsider's point of view I still see perks. More roleplayers in one place means more RP, which is why so many of us are passionate about keeping the RPers united on Balmung, to the point of rudeness at times (o/).
I have quite a few friends who are new and are starting with us on Balmung, as well as many returning ones. I think that the environment we've created is welcoming and open to new RPers because we WANT new RPers. More people, more connections, more potentially awesome RP. If we wanted to RP with the same old people (the same "cliques") all the time, we could go hide in our established LS's and close recruitment off. But we don't. We want this new blood, we want to RP with them, and if they desire it, we are glad to help them with their characters and the lore, to help them level, to progress WITH them through the content, as the legacy characters still have to re-do all the content in ARR.. hell, many of us are even starting our characters over ourselves (I'll be playing an 'alt' of my character so that I can re-experience and relearn my jobs while not missing out on RP, and doing content on my main version of her x3). Plus, many of the posters you see with join dates in 2010 left the game shortly after release, or played on and off during the time when 1.0 was up, so this is as new to them as any of the new members.
On the opportunity side of things, and the ability to make your own mark: there are very few "established" linkshells that are making the transition from 1.0 to ARR, to be honest. Most of the linkshells at the end of 1.0 were dead, so there are plenty of niches to fill as far as LS's go. I think TALE and Crystalline were two of the like.. three still active RPLS's at the end of 1.0. XD So I still see plenty of opportunity on Balmung.
I hope that you're able to make a decision you're happy with, whichever you choose. Both servers would welcome you and your group with open arms, no doubt about it.
I'm also speaking with bias, as my home has been Besaid/Balmung from the get-go, however looking at it from an outsider's point of view I still see perks. More roleplayers in one place means more RP, which is why so many of us are passionate about keeping the RPers united on Balmung, to the point of rudeness at times (o/).
I have quite a few friends who are new and are starting with us on Balmung, as well as many returning ones. I think that the environment we've created is welcoming and open to new RPers because we WANT new RPers. More people, more connections, more potentially awesome RP. If we wanted to RP with the same old people (the same "cliques") all the time, we could go hide in our established LS's and close recruitment off. But we don't. We want this new blood, we want to RP with them, and if they desire it, we are glad to help them with their characters and the lore, to help them level, to progress WITH them through the content, as the legacy characters still have to re-do all the content in ARR.. hell, many of us are even starting our characters over ourselves (I'll be playing an 'alt' of my character so that I can re-experience and relearn my jobs while not missing out on RP, and doing content on my main version of her x3). Plus, many of the posters you see with join dates in 2010 left the game shortly after release, or played on and off during the time when 1.0 was up, so this is as new to them as any of the new members.
On the opportunity side of things, and the ability to make your own mark: there are very few "established" linkshells that are making the transition from 1.0 to ARR, to be honest. Most of the linkshells at the end of 1.0 were dead, so there are plenty of niches to fill as far as LS's go. I think TALE and Crystalline were two of the like.. three still active RPLS's at the end of 1.0. XD So I still see plenty of opportunity on Balmung.
I hope that you're able to make a decision you're happy with, whichever you choose. Both servers would welcome you and your group with open arms, no doubt about it.
