Returning To 14

[Sigil.9054]

I'm considering returning to FF14, but I thought I'd do a bit of a research first.  I know I wasn't on an RP server the first time around, and so I'd like to move/reroll on one.  Before I do that, though, I have to find one, and make sure I'll fit.

 

So far, here's what I've determined:

 

- There are three Unofficial RP Servers: Balamaug, Gilgamesh, and Siren

- Balamaug and Giglamesh are pretty full and hard to get on.

- I don't know a darned thing about Siren

- That's about it.

 

Any information/corrections about these servers and their communities would appreciated.  In particular, I'm looking for things like:

 

- Intraguild organization, if any

- How rigidly or inflexibly the community adheres to lore

- Anything you find appealing or unappealing about the community in question (I'm open to recieving PMs on this last part)

 

Thanks in advance.

[Maveree]

It's spelled Balmung, actually! Both the Balmung and Gilgamesh servers have roleplay, though between the two, roleplay can be most easily found on Balmung. Regarding Siren, I have only just returned as well, and though I have seen folks on Siren, I honestly can't imagine the roleplaying community is very large - that being said, if you can log onto Siren, dang, that'd be worth it enough!

 

Of the last three questions, the only one I can answer is the second, about lore abiding. It's an honest toss-up. I'm more of the sort looking for lore-abiding roleplay and I notice it can be very difficult to find folks considering how many erm... go against the grain of the universe, so to say. That being said, if you enjoy that kind of roleplay, Balmung has oodles of it!

[Sigil.9054]

if you can log onto Siren, dang, that'd be worth it enough!

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

Hmm.  How bad is the over population on those other servers?  Would I be stuck in a queue for a while, or does it simply not allow new people in?

 

Of the last three questions, the only one I can answer is the second, about lore abiding. It's an honest toss-up. I'm more of the sort looking for lore-abiding roleplay and I notice it can be very difficult to find folks considering how many erm... go against the grain of the universe, so to say. That being said, if you enjoy that kind of roleplay, Balmung has oodles of it!

 

As for lore adherence, I do believe one should roleplay as a part of the world they've chosen to roleplay in, but I've seen a variety of ways to interpret how one violates the lore.  For instance: Some people believe that if it's not explicitly stated to exist, then it doesn't.  Others are the opposite route, where if it's not explicitly stated to not exist, then it can.  Still others tend to be somewhere in the middle, and will allow for anything that seems to adhere to the "flavor" of the lore.

 

(Hey Marceline, why are you so mean?)

[Maveree]

if you can log onto Siren, dang, that'd be worth it enough!

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

Hmm.  How bad is the over population on those other servers?  Would I be stuck in a queue for a while, or does it simply not allow new people in?

 

Of the last three questions, the only one I can answer is the second, about lore abiding. It's an honest toss-up. I'm more of the sort looking for lore-abiding roleplay and I notice it can be very difficult to find folks considering how many erm... go against the grain of the universe, so to say. That being said, if you enjoy that kind of roleplay, Balmung has oodles of it!

 

As for lore adherence, I do believe one should roleplay as a part of the world they've chosen to roleplay in, but I've seen a variety of ways to interpret how one violates the lore.  For instance: Some people believe that if it's not explicitly stated to exist, then it doesn't.  Others are the opposite route, where if it's not explicitly stated to not exist, then it can.  Still others tend to be somewhere in the middle, and will allow for anything that seems to adhere to the "flavor" of the lore.

 

Mmn, queue times... I suppose it really depends on how this maintenance holds through. For the past three days, I couldn't log in to Balmung (nor Gilgamesh) at all during peak activity hours. I had to hop on an entirely different cluster of servers to play. I'm really hoping the maintenance fixes all of that; but yes, there definitely are queues. So far, I haven't seen anything too daunting, just around 20 people ahead of me on average, give or take, and that generally works out in around 5-10 minutes maximum! I imagine after this expansion release it may be longer as so many players are returning, however. Making a character on Balmung has always been a harrowing experience, demanding you to be awake at ungodly hours haha but Gilgamesh is far more forgiving, letting you make characters through most hours excluding peak, it seems. That being said, server transfers let you by-pass this restriction, should you be patient enough to wait three days for your character to be eligible for transfer *Nods*

 

And to respond to the lore comments, oh yes, I certainly see what you mean! I believe filling in the grey areas of lore is totally a-ok and can add more to the already exciting and lush universe. I suppose that what I care to avoid, personally, are characters from other universes derived from anime or other MMORPGs, which I have found to be... not necessarily common, per se, but definitely an existent trope!

 

(I had the treehouse first :(!! Haha)

[Sigil.9054]

Mmn, queue times... I suppose it really depends on how this maintenance holds through.

 

Bah. I guess we'll see.

 

And to respond to the lore comments, oh yes, I certainly see what you mean! I believe filling in the grey areas of lore is totally a-ok and can add more to the already exciting and lush universe. I suppose that what I care to avoid, personally, are characters from other universes derived from anime or other MMORPGs, which I have found to be... not necessarily common, per se, but definitely an existent trope!

 

(I had the treehouse first !! Haha)

 

Haha! Well, I have to defend the people bringing in OoU character, somewhat. I did that when I was new to MMORP, and largely used it to explained why I didn't know much about the lore.

 

However, it wasn't long before someone pointed out that I was sort of doing myself a disservice with that method by sort of ignoring the world and it's lore. I tend to agree. Now-a-days I just have characters that are largely ignorant of their own history (Learning the lore along with my character is rather enjoyable, I've found)

[Maveree]

Mmn, queue times... I suppose it really depends on how this maintenance holds through.

 

Bah.  I guess we'll see.

 

And to respond to the lore comments, oh yes, I certainly see what you mean! I believe filling in the grey areas of lore is totally a-ok and can add more to the already exciting and lush universe. I suppose that what I care to avoid, personally, are characters from other universes derived from anime or other MMORPGs, which I have found to be... not necessarily common, per se, but definitely an existent trope!

 

(I had the treehouse first !! Haha)

 

Haha! Well, I have to defend the people bringing in OoU character, somewhat.  I did that when I was new to MMORP, and largely used it to explained why I didn't know much about the lore.  

 

However, it wasn't long before someone pointed out that I was sort of doing myself a disservice with that method by sort of ignoring the world and it's lore.  I tend to agree.  Now-a-days I just have characters that are largely ignorant of their own history (Learning the lore along with my character is rather enjoyable, I've found)

 

Oooh... that's a very good point for someone to have made. Yep, making a character who's ignorant of their culture or history so as to allow both the player and character learn can be so much fun. That's actually what I did with my first character on FFXIV, haha! It really helped me learn as well as provide my character with a goal to set themselves to and a reason to socialize with others. Also, regarding queue times, if you commonly log in around this time, the queues are very short and forgiving, as I'm seeing

[Sigil.9054]

Alas, I'm at work.  I won't be home for another 5 hours at least.  Sad times.

[ArmachiA]

There's a lot of different Roleplayers on Balmung that will fit your play style, a lot of us like to argue lore on the forums but we generally don't harass each other in game if we disagree.

 

If you're looking for lore compliance you'll find it, there are plenty of us (My FC has a lore compliance rule for instance - where it has to be either be in lore or just explained well enough in the grey areas using lore) and if you're looking for non-lore rp well thats here too.

 

Balmung has a lot of events and can easily get intra FC rp going, I've seen it a lot and been a part of it myself. I wouldn't say there's a giant organization of it though,. it just Fcs who feel like working together.

 

There are problems like any community, and like any community the problems are different to each person. It really depends on who you talk to what they think the problems are with rp on the server.

[Sigil.9054]

Ah, good to know.

 

Ugh.  Looking over things, I might have to start from scratch.  I've been gone so long, I don't remember a damned thing any more.

 

Anyone got a lore primer handy?

[ArmachiA]

if you need any help with lore just ask, there are a bunch of us to know a bunch (Sounssy is our own wiki man), you can do a lot within lore, a lot. If you want to ask in private, you can shoot me a pm and I can try to help If I can't I'll just send you to Sounssy

[Sigil.9054]

Gotcha, will nag with lore questions.

 

You've made an terrible mistake.  :tonberry:

[Darien Cadell]

A bunch of groups that are not on Balmung/Gilgamesh are listed here:

 

http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=15&filtertf_srvr=Other

 

If the character creation woes have sent you searching for another server, I think already knowing/having contacted a group wherever you land might help.

[Sigil.9054]

Ah yes, I stumbled across that last night shortly before heading to bed. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, regardless.

 

Due to last night's shenanigans, I can't attempt to transfer my main to Balmung until Saturday, so I'll be looking around Siren in the meantime. I did bump into someone in an RP guild last night (also right before logging off), so I've got hope!

[Sigil.9054]

WOOT! ^0^

 

I've made it to Balmung.

[Michikyou]

Welcome to the server!

[Faye]

Welcome to Balmung!