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+--- Thread: Decision between Servers (/showthread.php?tid=3253)
Decision between Servers - Kiht - 08-03-2013
As it's apparent this is my first post, due to my nature to be, as my valiant title suggests; a Wall Flower. - I usually never speak up or post. However, the time has come! I apologize in advance if this topic is littered on the forums, or it's in the wrong section. I did my best to search for related and none that I saw really answered my concern.Â
Anyways, I've been roleplaying for quite a long time, nearly nine years, and I wasn't part of the previous incarnation of FFXIV, so the community here is new to me. My concern is between Balmung and Gilgamesh. As I've discovered, Balmung is the original RP server, and is now the Legacy server for FFXIV:ARR, which means the majority of Veterans will dive back to that server, and a hunk of the newer people will dive there as well due to numbers and an already developed community.
Gilgamesh is a new server, and the community has the intention of expanding and fleshing out it's secondary base here (As I've read all over the forums and their ambitions are glorious.) Now, my ordeal is that I'm new to this community, and from my standpoint Gilgamesh is more.. attractive, essentially. Reasons being, that Balmung I'm sure has multiple fleshed out storylines and groups that have already been established, and it's intimating to take the step forwards.Â
In my view, it's similar to a group of people who are all friends, chatting away, and the new guys (Moi.) are timid to step forwards and try to get friendly with them. I know that this community and RPers in general are angels when it comes to social interaction, but it's still... unappealing to try and wedge myself inside an already molded situation.
Gilgamesh obviously has a clean slate, and even though there are veterans there, they still need people to make the community blossom as a vibrant RP hub, however I fear that the numbers will lack due to it's big brother's already established community.
LONG STORY SHORT: Gilgamesh is appealing due to being a part of the creation, and it feels like it would be easier to 'fit in' so to speak, yet I fear that eventually the water will run dry and RP will be few and far between because the majority is on the father server.
Balmung is appealing due to it's larger RP base and established community, yet intimating to think about having to try and wiggle into the scene with the impairment of, essentially shyness.
I am not sure if I'm alone in these thoughts, but I have a feeling there are a lot more people in my position of undecided thoughts. SO, Gilgamesh or Balmung?
RE: Decision between Servers - Selsix - 08-03-2013
(08-03-2013, 05:32 PM)Vaux Wrote: I wasn't part of the previous incarnation of FFXIV
You answered your own question.
Balmung is only for Legacy players, meaning people who played the original FFXIV. You will not be able to roll a new character there for QUITE some time.
Gilgamesh or bust my friend.Â
RE: Decision between Servers - Kiht - 08-03-2013
(08-03-2013, 05:35 PM)Selsix Wrote:That explains why I couldn't find an answer, I'm just a moron. GILGAMESH IT IS. Thank you =P(08-03-2013, 05:32 PM)Vaux Wrote: I wasn't part of the previous incarnation of FFXIV
You answered your own question.
Balmung is only for Legacy players, meaning people who played the original FFXIV. You will not be able to roll a new character there for QUITE some time.
Gilgamesh or bust my friend.Â
RE: Decision between Servers - AFriendOfAFriend - 08-03-2013
(08-03-2013, 05:35 PM)Selsix Wrote:(08-03-2013, 05:32 PM)Vaux Wrote: I wasn't part of the previous incarnation of FFXIV
You answered your own question.
Balmung is only for Legacy players, meaning people who played the original FFXIV. You will not be able to roll a new character there for QUITE some time.
Gilgamesh or bust my friend.Â
Erm... Sorry, but no. Balmung is a Legacy server, yes, but new character creation has been available there since Phase 3, even for non-Legacy players.
To the OP: Standard subscription price allows for a character per server, so my advice would be to roll on both Balmung and Gilgamesh, test them out and see which you like better. Informed decisions are often the best.
RE: Decision between Servers - K'nahli - 08-03-2013
Balmung! Balmung! Join ussssssss~
But really, from what I have seen there are going to be a lot of fresh faces(myself included) going ahead and joining the Balmung server and because of the large community I don't think you have anything to fear. Everything will be well-balanced from the beginners to the veterans and there ought to be many opportunities for you to find your own little niche.
RE: Decision between Servers - FreelanceWizard - 08-03-2013
(08-03-2013, 05:35 PM)Selsix Wrote: Balmung is only for Legacy players, meaning people who played the original FFXIV. You will not be able to roll a new character there for QUITE some time.
Incorrect. The only systemic differences between legacy and non-legacy servers are:
- No transfers are allowed off them for a period yet to be specified, but likely six months, after launch; and
- All 1.x characters will be transferred to legacy servers only.
Anyone can make a character on a legacy server. The restriction on new character creation only existed in early phase 3.
EDIT: Ack! Looks like other people have posted this response too. I'm not trying to pile on, promise!
This is just a common misconception that needs to be squelched.
RE: Decision between Servers - Ashren Dotharl - 08-03-2013
(08-03-2013, 05:35 PM)Selsix Wrote:False. Legacy Servers are the only place you can currently play a character you had during 1.0, but they are not exclusive to old characters. You are completely capable of joining Balmung even if you are brand new to the game.(08-03-2013, 05:32 PM)Vaux Wrote: I wasn't part of the previous incarnation of FFXIV
You answered your own question.
Balmung is only for Legacy players, meaning people who played the original FFXIV. You will not be able to roll a new character there for QUITE some time.
Gilgamesh or bust my friend.Â
RE: Decision between Servers - Selsix - 08-03-2013
Yeesh guys, you didn't have to tell me I was incorrect THREE times. I get it, I'm misinformed.Â
My buddy is a Legacy player and told me that's how it is, so I took his word for it. Carry on. I apologize.
However, more on topic? In spite of this, I'll still be rolling on Gilgamesh. I'm treating this like a brand new game. Why would I want to be on a server full of characters who are already max level?Â
RE: Decision between Servers - FreelanceWizard - 08-03-2013
Sorry!
This is just a pretty common misconception (spread in part by some Legacy Program players who are being weird about new players for some reason) and I think a lot of us just respond fast on it without seeing what others have posted first.
<- Not a Legacy Program player, has 1 1.x character that was level 7, and is starting new in ARR.
RE: Decision between Servers - Kiht - 08-03-2013
(08-03-2013, 05:41 PM)Selsix Wrote: Yeesh guys, you didn't have to tell me I was incorrect THREE times. I get it, I'm misinformed.Â
My buddy is a Legacy player and told me that's how it is, so I took his word for it. Carry on. I apologize.
Now we both know things. All in all, complete victory has been achieved.
RE: Decision between Servers - Ashren Dotharl - 08-03-2013
(08-03-2013, 05:43 PM)FreelanceWizard Wrote: Sorry!^This pretty much, there is a strange amount of animosity between Legacy Program players and Non-Legacy players on the beta forums. There are some players who absolutely refuse to play on the same server as Legacy members, and there are some people who only want to play with Legacy members. Because of this I think it's kind of a knee jerk reaction to sort of respond to this kind of thing.
This is just a pretty common misconception (spread in part by some Legacy Program players who are being weird about new players for some reason) and I think a lot of us just respond fast on it without seeing what others have posted first.
<- Not a Legacy Program player, has 1 1.x character that was level 7, and is starting new in ARR.
RE: Decision between Servers - Desmond Aryll - 08-03-2013
For me the appeal of Gilgamesh is trailblazing.Â
Balmung has established RP, Linkshells and new FC's springing out of those old relationships. That's all great and a testament to the people who were there before. But for example if one wanted to open an RP tavern, they exist already on Balmung. How do you lure in players to your upstart spot when they already have a venue for a similar thing?
Gilgamesh is brand spanking new territory. I feel it better compliments the beginning of my own noob story.
RE: Decision between Servers - FreelanceWizard - 08-03-2013
Anyhoo, back on topic to the OP's question!
I recommend you make a character on both servers if you're undecided. There's great people and LSes on Gilgamesh and Balmung. However, there are of course some differences between the servers, as you've noticed. You may want to look at the following threads where these topics have been discussed:
- A questionnaire that's been making its way through forums -- It has some methodological issues, but it makes some interesting points about the relative server sizes and RPers per capita.
- A discussion of the effects of Reddit and 4chan on Gilgamesh -- This covers the pros, cons, and possible effects of those communities' choices.
- Alothia's post on the differences between the servers -- This explains the pros of both servers and why you might choose one over another.
- My post summarizing the arguments for both servers -- I tried to summarize all the arguments I heard from all sides in a neutral way.
I'm sure you can find more resources and discussions on the topic here, but those are the ones I think are most helpful.
One final note I'll add is that XIV had a population in the low tens of thousands when 1.x closed. ARR has a beta population of over 1 million at this point. Also, a lot of 1.x players are starting anew in 2.x so they can play through the new storylines. As such, 1.x characters will be utterly overwhelmed by new characters no matter what server you choose, so "new RP" will exceed "old RP" by a significant margin. Balmung won't be very much like an "old" RP server, IMO (and Gilgamesh definitely won't be, since it's all new over there).
RE: Decision between Servers - Ildur - 08-03-2013
I don't know how the Balmung denizens do it, but when someone 'claims' ownership over a specific place (like a tavern), they are not REALLY kicking everyone out of it forever. It's just they using the place temporaly until their scene is done. Sure, they might go there on a regular basis, but chances are that if someone else is roleplaying as the 'owner' of the tavern, then they will just look for another in-game tavern.
In that sense, both Balmung and Gilgamesh are exactly the same.
Or, once housing is implemented, and depending on how good it is, people will probably make their taverns in their in-game houses instead.
RE: Decision between Servers - Xenedra - 08-03-2013
Regardless of which server you choose, you're in for a good experience, IMO. Why not dabble on both to start?