Vexander

So this poll has run its original 48 course. Are we extending it? Or should the thread be locked and closed for future discussions? Will we see a sequel where we vote on the top 3 or so servers? What happens now?

I'm still kind of holding out hope that Thunder and Thunder III will simply be Thunder & Thunder II, while Thunder II and Thunder IV will become Thundaga & Thundaga II. Wouldn't mind if Aero III became Tornado and was beefed up a bit. Alas, no Quake yet, or Flood. Or Burst it seems. Stoked for the Red Mage. Nice to see it using all 6 Elements, not to mention some non-aspected looking spells that seem to be Astral or Umbral in charge. Was hoping for a lot more hard facts about the changes, like a link to where you could read all new tool-tips with a GIANT disclaimer that numbers are subject to change. I'd like to know the full tool kits for the new jobs.

Hrmn... the Star of Destruction, no? Isn't that an Ala Mhigan symbol by their deity, Rhalgr? Or it could be related to the Red Mages I suppose.

I think we actually petitioned this to the RPC before 2.0 launched. It never took off, sadly, and we were told "all the RPers will be on Balmung so there's no point splitting" And then, well, this week. Yeah, but now that we understand a lot more about the servers, their infrastructure, and their mass capacity for players, I think there can be a lot of motivation to make it work out.

Oh? Well that makes me feel a lot better. Like I said, right now I'd love to see two or three new designated RP servers. At least 1 being EU.

Answers to the best of my ability: 1: Ping may be an issue, but I have NA friends on Cerberus atm, N.Carolina was one of their locations and they said it was fine for them, ofc this won't always be the case. 2:Time zone will be an issue at first, there is no denying that but if more NA players came across, we could slowly build an international community, so it's always an option, and yes you do raise valid points, however on days people are off work and such there is always the possibility of making events friendly to both timezones perhaps. 3: No you don't need another account, it's just for item codes from promotions it effects such as the amazon maid costumes etc. You can move your main over and soon for free as well as far as I'm aware So it's a possibility. I hope I helped, sorry if any of my information is incorrect friends. Hrmn... one of my concerns for the EU servers is SE's yearly promotional. Its quite difficult for Americans to participate in the EU versions, since those are highly localized, whereas the NA version is through amazon and very easy to participate in from just about anywhere.

Part of the issue is, RP'ers attract non-RP'ers. Crafters love RP'ers because we're insatiable glamour machines willing to dish out millions of gil for the latest outfit. PvE'ers love us because the crafters love us. More crafters come to meet our demands, driving down prices, making it cheaper for PvE'ers to get the latest gear and items for raiding. Griefers love us cause we're an easy target. They might get banned for intentionally screwing up a raid, but, 'Harassment,' is a gray area where SE is concerned, so Trolls feel safer targeting us. I've always felt that RP'ers are the backbone, the glue of most servers. This is why we really need more than one new unofficial RP server, though I'm happy to see one selected for now and see what the future brings.

You keep missing the third long term solution though. Roleplayers designate a new RP server on their own, and consolidate there. Vex, based on your prior post, I understand that you have tossed all of your eggs in the Maetus basket, and I wish you the best there, and hope that the trend of small RP servers floundering is reversed [by SE designating an official RP server on Maetus, Balmung, or elsewhere, or by the transfer restriction being lifted and everyone coming back into the Balmung fold]. Not all of my eggs, no. I still have a character on Balmung. However, I am actively focusing my efforts on Mateus. That is not coloring my proposal. I've done my homework and have backup plans if things don't work out. Sure it'd suck, but a RP'er is prepared. I agree, its not reasonable to -expect- thousands of RP'ers to pick up shop and move server. Its best for those who can, those without connections and housing, to do so. Alternatively, I do not believe its reasonable for you to -expect- hundreds of RP'ers to pick up shop and move onto an overcrowded server where there is NO chance to rebuild their FCs due to lack of housing in the extreme. It is more reasonable to ask people to leave Balmung, than to join it, at this point, and I think you're outright ignoring that fact, on purpose. That is the major flaw in the premise of this thread, and is the reason so few individuals agree with it.

You keep missing the third long term solution though. Roleplayers designate a new RP server on their own, and consolidate there.

I disagree that an Official RP Designation by Square is the only way it could happen. I think the players can make it happen. I don't think we can really stress enough that Balmung is closed and locked for the foreseeable future, possibly forever. If it is unhealthy to keep the RP community split, and the RP community cannot consolidate on Balmung, then logically the onus of keeping the community united is upon the RP community of Balmung. Having been a Balmung RP'er for over two years, I left it recently for Mateus to do just that. I don't expect everyone to follow in my wake, nor do I ask it of them. I would ask, however, that players keep an open mind, and if they're feeling adventurous, to seize the opportunity and join the new unofficial RP server now, while resources such as housing are available, while the ground foundation is still new. Now is the time to strike out and make a new server, and to make it amazing.

I was going to offer to give you an answer when you manage to draft a post that isn't inflammatory, but I'm feeling generous (and believe that drafting such a post would prove difficult). I've mentioned the answer numerous time -- if you physically can't access Balmung, select whatever alternative RP community best suits your tastes, and transfer to the central RP hub [balmung or official RP server if designated] the first opportunity you get. There are communities to pick from on numerous servers (Maetus, Farie, Lich, etc.). Don't split the party. Stick together. For reasons why, see OP. And most of all, you're welcome (insert Moana music here). One of the most significant reasons the RP community of Balmung has remained there so long is that simply ripping out your roots and transferring is not as easy as it sounds. FCs, LSs, Friends, Houses, etc... you're suggesting that -when- Balmung is opened up, people should do all this and move to Balmung, when there are many on Balmung who are not willing to do this for the same reasons. Don't you think there's something of a double standard in this? The RP community should stand united, I agree, but if its come to the point where we can have more than one stable server, I don't see the issue. When Balmung opens up, I don't see an issue in making alts there, just as some folks from Balmung do not currently see an issue in making alts for Mateus/Faerie/Siren. If you're advocating that we do not split the party, that we stick together, perhaps you should campaign for Balmung's RP'ers to leave Balmung and be with the rest of the RP community, rather than on a server no one can join anymore.

Its not that I don't want us to be visible (we are), but that I want us to be respectful. If after 5 years the stance from Square hasn't changed, I don't think its really reasonable to keep pushing it. They've made it clear they want such things like this to be a community effort. I'd like to think the RP community is mature enough and organized enough to be able to accept that challenge and rise to it. I'd like to think we're a group of players Square could be proud of for not needing to have their hands held.

I'm a bit wary of putting a lot of pressure on SE, personally. They've been fairly supportive of the RP community compared to other games. The Lorebook, the RP tag in-game, etc... A lot of the game's systems are well tooled to support RP, and there aren't a lot of games which do that anymore. I would sadden me greatly if at a Fanfest Yoshi P was asked about an official RP server and he just walked off the stage in disgust like when someone asked for the umpteenth-thousandth-time about Parsers. I don't want to see the RP community become THAT.

As someone who's been on Balmung since they started playing FFXIV, I think its time for RP'ers to free themselves from it. I recently moved to Mateus, and its just become such a better experience for me. I've got a house now, which I never had before with Balmung, nor could I ever have dreamed of getting a house on Balmung. As I'm leveling my crafters, I suddenly find myself more inspired to actually do more than level them to cap for the sake of Repairs in dungeons/raids. The economy isn't as bad as Balmung's is, and as more RP'ers come here, there's more demand in the market. Balmung's greatest strength was its RP community, the size of it. Its greatest weakness was the overpopulation caused by RP'ers and Non-RP'ers alike. More FCs are showing up each day now for Mateus, and I think people are beginning to see it as the successor to Balmung, and that seems like a good thing to me. I think its time to move on. We've outgrown Balmung, we did so long ago. We'll never forget out origins, but we should move forward.

Back on World of Warcraft I used to do a number of Reliquary/Explorer's League events and such for folks, so this has caught my curiosity! I'd love to talk to you folks further and compare notes. I love the general idea, though the time-frame attached to excavations is something I'm a bit wary of, as artificial time barriers killed more RP than it created, from my experience.

We could theoretically speculate that the Y tribe might be native to the Dravanian Hinterlands. Y'shtola as well as her sister, Y'mhitra, are natives to Sharlayan, but do seem to hold to the traditional naming conventions. Either the Y tribe is native to Old Sharlayan and came over to help with the colony, or they were living in Eorzea when Colonial Sharlayan was established and assimilated into it. Could also be wrong and Y'shtola and her sister just became Sharlayans by studying there and becoming citizens the old fashioned way, but its enough of a breadcrumb to build off of.

Interesting! Glad to see more FCs on Mateus starting to appear. Out of curiosity, what Ward/Plot is the FC located at? My character recently acquired a home in the Mist, so I'd at least like to be able to visit.

I don't disagree that they should've opened free transfers off now as well, but I will say Square gave me an incentive to leave Balmung: the Lag. Ever since the servers were relocated to the West Coast, the game was become far too unresponsive for me while on Balmung. When I logged onto Mateus with my main after moving him, it felt like how it was before the move. The lack of congestion makes the game easier to play.

I think its difficult to quantify the activity on the servers to be honest. I'd like to say Mateus, Siren, and Faerie have sustained communities of RP'ers on them. As for which has the largest, I couldn't begin to guess. I do know quite a few people who have transferred to Mateus of late, but I wouldn't be surprised if Faerie and Siren were getting new folks as well.

Having recently moved to Mateus I had to vote for it of course. Its RP community is strong and growing, friendly and helpful, and there's always a good number of RP'ers on. The Housing Market is highly available as well. Being the least populated server currently for the Aether Data Center, I cannot imagine Mateus not being a designated free transfer server either.

I was more speaking speculatively, Sounsyy. I'm fully aware that what we have now is what we have. I guess its just something I disagree with as an opinion as a player. Either way I'm looking forward to what Stormblood brings.

Oh good. So this is more to determine who the candidates for the new Unofficial RP server are, rather than for the server itself. Two Days seemed very short, but if its more to gauge interest in the candidates that feels better.

I have a quick question: When are the polls going to close? A few people I've spoken too are curious about it.

Well, to be fair... another idea could be that Sharlayan DOES have Red Mages, that they just work differently. I mean, most of the Class guilds state they're the product of numerous different cultures' take on a specific set of knowledge and skill being accumulated under a single roof. I suppose, theoretically, Sharlayan could have Red Mages which focused more on magic and self-defense, and Thamasa had Red Mages focused more on swordplay and offense, since they'd have had to of dealt with the Witch Hunts after the floods, while Sharlayan wouldn't have. And yes, I've decided to call the hidden Red Mage place Thamasa as well, until we're given its real name.

An absolutely beautiful response! Thank you! I suppose my main issue thus far, however, would be that the current Red Mage story to me just feels like it would make more sense applied to Sharlayan. Red Mages remain an unknown quantity in the lore as of right now, 3.57, which implies they're a hidden resource. We -know- Sharlayan hides its resources. Likewise, I'm not sure I believe Sharlayan has White Mages and Black Mages... I mean, there doesn't seem to be a reason that knowledge wouldn't be available to them, and it would help measure up to Minfilia's statements that the Garleans fear Sharlayan's magical might. I suppose I just feel Sharlayan made more sense. From aesthetic to everything we currently have. The only bit that doesn't quite fit in, as you mentioned, is that the Sharlayans are very much so against war, viewing it as barbaric. That said, I have a hard time believing a nation of Scholars, Academics, and Mages would not have something up their sleeves to defend themselves if someone launched a war on them. Red Mage seems like it would've been the ideal job Sharlayan devised to protect itself from foreign threats. I mean, the swordsmanship of the Red Mage style has a kind of artistic value as well, so studying how to be a Red Mage could be as much about learning an art, if not moreso, than about learning how to fight. It also would've been the perfect Poster-Job for the expansion that brings us to Old Sharlayan. Granted who knows when that is, but if I recall one of the Live Letters correctly, Yoshi P. stated the 3.0-5.0 expansions are handling the story about the rebuilding of the Eorzean Alliance, meaning 6.0 would be when we're slated to start fighting the Garleans in their home territory, rather than conquered territory. If 3.0 was about Ishgard, and 4.0 is about Ala Mhigo and Doma, 5.0 would've logically been about Sharlayan, as it was the 6th City-State of Eorzea. The idea that Sharlayan's Red Mages would outright secede from the Forum's Control due to distaste for the Bibliothec's current regime would've also played well into laying the groundwork for such an expansion. Just feels like a lot of wasted potential.