discussion An EU server, for EU roleplayers *UPDATED 14/06*

[Unnamed Mercenary]

While the RPC's goal is to provide an accommodating space for every server, it's not in our best interest to send all incoming people to a ghost town if the server people voted for here doesn't take.

 

 

From what I'm seeing in the interest of the discords and what has been voted it's not going to be so, we need everyones co-operation to make this work. Hesitation will only make things worse. The best you can do is go for the choice that has been voted for, and that is all that is asked I would have thought if it were such a case. As this is a big opportunity. perhaps I'm missing the point of what you are saying though.

 

It's definitely possible. Naturally, if there's a server voted for by active people, the RPC's gonna try to promote that one the most, but our site goal is still to provide a place for all servers.

 

What I'm trying to say is that a server showing they're active and welcoming is far more important than the RPC or anywhere else posting a sign telling new people to go somewhere. Yes, we can direct traffic, but it won't stick if people just wallflower or don't want to invest in keeping communities on that server active and welcoming.

 

A Balmung waiting room is not ideal. (Which is a fear for the NA threads right now). But like the NA efforts, EU efforts are ultimately going to come down to whichever server looks the most active and the most welcoming. That means posts here, on tumblr, and elsewhere.

 

Showing activity is the best way to get noticed, in my opinion. That means things like IC posts, event threads, making connections posts, and just general activity by users on the forum whether promoting their server or not. Of course, if a server's missing from the prefixes or from the popular wiki templates that automatically add categories, just let me know and I can add them in most of the time. (The wiki's a bit of a pain, but I think I got it figured out. It's not my forte.)

[Anehki]

Showing activity is the best way to get noticed, in my opinion

 

I'm pretty sure that much is obvious, we can't be active on a server we don't have yet however, but we can be active here, and we can be active to make the decision and get the word out.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Showing activity is the best way to get noticed, in my opinion

 

I'm pretty sure that much is obvious, we can't be active on a server we don't have yet however, but we can be active here, and we can be active to make the decision and get the word out.

 

It's definitely important. I only bring this up directly because I've seen how often people will try to start up a community and make a generic "all the RPers" linkshell and enjin (other servers sometimes) site with sections that basically mirror the RPC's here. I think it hurts their exposure because those sites aren't going to get indexed by Google and other search engines quickly and often, they don't get posted or reposted here. (RPC's bills are also always paid so there's no worry of the site going anywhere either).

 

I suppose my comments are more directed at current communities, followed by whichever server is then selected for the long-term. SE has opened a thread about NA DC connection woes, and may be able to make adjustments as well. Something to consider if they make a good enough difference.

[Anehki]

Well on the topic of promoting EU roleplay, I strongly suggest people join the https://discord.gg/CeEaqjg <--- RP Locations Hub Discord as there is a large number of EU RPers discussing the server location there, and also some events on Lich while we wait for the conclusion of this situation.

 

Speaking of said events, Lich is hosting an event On Saturday the 27th of May 2017 at 8PM BST (7PM GMT) A wonderful RP event taking place at the hidden falls beach in Eastern La Noscea. More details Here!

[Vanyah]

I for one am more than happy to move to one of the new worlds and if one does become home to the RPC for EU players, it would sway the server I move to. I’m looking forward to meeting all the players that move over and would be very excited to Role Play with you all.

[Flynn Bladebreaker]

I'm not expecting everyone to move, but I really do feel this will help current and new EU RPers who want a choice for latency and RP.

 

As I said before since it looks like the most voted for is a new server, we don't know which one and when they're named we'll need to pick so the RPC can advertise it as such.

[Anehki]

How exciting, the new server hit the 40 mark <3 steadily but surely picking up interest, I have plans to host a niche meeting about the darker Magicks of Eorzea once a month when we move, I'm in the plans of working on the details.

 

I'm thinking it will be something more based around characters progression in the chosen school perhaps debating their applications of it, and tales involving it through their travels in Eorzea. I miss these sorts of things I used to partake in when RPing in WoW years ago.

[Flynn Bladebreaker]

Whatever gets picked, I really hope it becomes like an EU Balmung. As in like, people searching for a server get pointed towards Balmung. Now people looking for an EU server get pointed towards this new one just as easily. There are other small EU pockets to choose from, but I feel due to RPC limitations those don't get as much notice.

 

If any mods read this, do you think it would be possible when the RPC gets upgraded to have a site banner that says "NA servers: " and "EU servers: " or something similar? Top of the list being the most known popular? Doesn't have to be a banner but something similar in design that just says "here are the servers we support".

 

It's getting me excited knowing we'll have an official unofficial EU place.

 

EDIT: After making an alt in Odin and talking about RP with some people there, they are mostly alts and are also on board with moving to one of the new EU servers once it gets designated and advertised

[LilaSepia]

I would be all for this, starting on a new server... and would seriously like to discuss any and all ideas any of you have for how to jumpstart the community. Please please PLEASE send a /tell or mail to Lila Sepia or Thoa Sterling on Ragnarok if you reside there, or message us here if you want to pull ideas.

[Gaibhne]

As a new FC, which is also a guild on SWTOR.  We are VERY excited about seeing a RP community on a European server!  We're currently on Ragnarok, but will gladly move servers to where everyone else is headed.  <3

[Dravus]

I'll be creating an alt to check things out once the chosen server is live. If things go well and I manage to find something to my tastes then I'll be open to moving my main character over as well. Naturally that won't be an easy decision to make, hence the reluctance to do it outright. 

 

As someone who enjoys the game as a whole, though, the sudden increase in ping is pretty noticeable. It's not impossible to work around but if the EU servers are much more stable for me than that definitely increases the appeal.

[Swanmay]

Once again, for anyone interestedm in furthering discussion, a large group can be found on this discord server https://discord.gg/CNeGP79

 

I would encourage anyone interested to join!

[Keo]

Hello here !

 

Just my 2 cents ; as someone who isn't part of Balmung, knowing that a community is heading to the new server is a very good opportunity for me, but also for many others. Please keep in mind role players are not always on Balmung, and european players were not always willing to leave their non-role players friends behind because of that. They are all spread out, not even aware of each others sometimes...

 

You see 45 votes here, but I can assure you there are way more people interested than that. I already told several players around me about it. I know for sure me and two friends will move over there. I will let know other roleplayers about it, because it really is a great opportunity for all the players who couldn't make it to Balmung.

 

I already joined the discord, I'm looking forward to getting more info about it !

[Otte]

I personally will most likely create an alt or two on the EU server to check things out, but won't move my characters off of Balmung.

 

I have many friends on NA side who play on Balmung, and I don't want to be cut off from them, or the rest of the NA playerbase, let alone all the housing, RP-plots and stories my characters are part of on Balmung. Despite my ping going up by a lot I haven't seen any difference compared to the playability before the server move (around 200-220 ms from where I live now), so that isn't pushing me towards transferring either.

 

I support having an EU RP server though, for those that do have problems with lag, and want to focus on RP side that is more around their timezone.

[BattleMedic]

Courtesy of someone on my own thread, I can weigh in a bit here!

 

While I'd love Phoenix to be an EU RP server, but it really doesn't have much of a community for it. Though I would agree with moving to a server as Balmung is just too full for me to create a character. (Not going to pay a fee for the RP, as much as I enjoy it!) 

 

Although off-topic if people are in need of RP on an EU server, I've set up a linkshell in the hopes of building any kind of RP group on Phoenix, even if it never gets that big. Hit me up here or In-game (Kalwyn Thorn) and we might be able to set something up!

[Maril]

Whilst we are waiting for the new server names, assuming there's going to be more than one: 

To cut the confusion, should we simply elect to head for the last new server in the alphabet? Or the very first one? Something like that. It may be easier to navigate over several discords and the RPC all shouting different names.

[Swanmay]

Whilst we are waiting for the new server names, assuming there's going to be more than one: 

To cut the confusion, should we simply elect to head for the last new server in the alphabet? Or the very first one? Something like that. It may be easier to navigate over several discords and the RPC all shouting different names.

 

An excellent idea! If people can agree on a number then that seems like the best course of action.

[Nebbs]

Whilst we are waiting for the new server names, assuming there's going to be more than one: 

To cut the confusion, should we simply elect to head for the last new server in the alphabet? Or the very first one? Something like that. It may be easier to navigate over several discords and the RPC all shouting different names.

 

An excellent idea! If people can agree on a number then that seems like the best course of action.

 

The talk on Discord seems to be for the last new server in the list, as names are not yet available.

[Abriael]

I'm certainly going to stay on Balmung, as I don't think fragmenting the RP community is a good idea.

 

As a matter of fact, SE should probably simply recognize Balmung as an official RP server, and offer incentives to non-roleplayers to move.

[Swanmay]

I'm certainly going to stay on Balmung, as I don't think fragmenting the RP community is a good idea.

 

As a matter of fact, SE should probably simply recognize Balmung as an official RP server, and offer incentives to non-roleplayers to move.

 

That's all well and good, but the server is locked to everyone who wants to join an RP community, and will be for the forseeable future. With nowhere to go, those RP'ers not currently on Balmung can have a home to start another community on the EU data centre. The community is already fragmented because of this. Furthermore, MMOs can have more than one RP community and be successful. Look at WoW as an example, two large servers (Wyrmrest Accord and Moon Guard) and that's only the US side. The EU side also have a couple of, albeit small but no less succesful servers.

 

Lastly, roleplayers are the minority. The needs of the many come before the needs of the few as it happens, and while SE seems to do more than most other companies with regards to being specifically RP friendly, they wont designate Balmung as their official RP server. It would be nice, but it's unrealistic.

[Abriael]

 

That's all well and good, but the server is locked to everyone who wants to join an RP community, and will be for the forseeable future. With nowhere to go, those RP'ers not currently on Balmung can have a home to start another community on the EU data centre. The community is already fragmented because of this. Furthermore, MMOs can have more than one RP community and be successful. Look at WoW as an example, two large servers (Wyrmrest Accord and Moon Guard) and that's only the US side. The EU side also have a couple of, albeit small but no less succesful servers.

 

Lastly, roleplayers are the minority. The needs of the many come before the needs of the few as it happens, and while SE seems to do more than most other companies with regards to being specifically RP friendly, they wont designate Balmung as their official RP server. It would be nice, but it's unrealistic.

 

Wow also has an enormously larger population than FFXIV, so yes, it has the bodies to accommodate two major RP servers. Plenty of them. FFXIV doesn't get even close, so it's much more convenient to keep the vast majority of the RP population focused in one place.

 

I wouldn't be so sure that, at least on Balmung, RPers (including heavy and light) are a minority. And I certainly don't agree that SE seems to do more than most in being RP-friendly. They never did the most basic of the RP-friendly things, which is giving us a RP server.

 

Personally, I won't contribute to the fragmentation of the RP community, like I didn't when people pushed the split between Balmung and Gilgamesh (which crashed and bushed for obvious reasons). If others want to leave, that's their prerogative, but I have the feeling that they're gonna regret it on the long run.

[Maril]

This really is not an attempt to fragment the community. Whilst there may be a situation where some leave Balmung with their mains in the EU community, as far as I have seen, it is not the majority who wishes to do so. Most people want to contribute to a new server with an alt. People are embracing that you can exist on more than one server for roleplay, and I think that is about time. There's a tonne of people using alternate platforms for their RP already, so why not hop on a different server from time to time. It literally will be free this time around, to transfer to this new server.

 

Please also keep in mind that some people are seeking to move because the latency on Balmung for some european players have become unbearable. If they want to enjoy for example progressive end-game raiding, or maybe have spouses and other close friends who are into that, they have to move. Before the NA server location move you could sort of justify that it wasn't bad enough, however this is no longer the case for some. There are also ones that haven't been hit so hard and yet again some who do not really care about latency, but I don't think it's fair to blame those who have to do these things and tell them they're fragmenting the community. 

 

And yet again additionally, Balmung is locked and will probably be locked for a long time. On top of that, when it unlocks, we will no doubt be back in the situation where people have to pay to transfer onto the server. This is not a good way to convince new roleplayers to join up (I know a handful of my friends who chose not to, because of this restriction.) - For both sides of the sea it is about time the community unfolded and branched out. We may not be bigger than WoW, but we are the second most popular choice last I checked, I really do not see why the community shouldn't try to plan ahead & create welcoming homes for the future - especially when there are people motivated to lead these initiatives.

[Arty]

Even GW2 had EU and NA RP servers when I played, and that game didn't even have the numbers FFXIV has, let alone WoW. LOTRO as well had EU and NA RP servers.

 

Having 2 RP servers is a normal thing and people shouldn't be afraid of it.

[Flynn Bladebreaker]

As soon as Balmung was announced closed, I didn't see any concern about an EU server. It was straight for another NA one, which is all well and good but you know, I think it's about time our side of the pond get a place recognised and supported by the RPC as much as they supported Balmung. I understand there are some website limitations, but when you look at the FC/LS tabs, you see a Balmung section, Gilgamesh section (no Mateus yet?), and Other. It might change in the future, I don't really know, but as of now it doesn't give me a lot of faith that there is any support for EU players. I hope this changes once we pick one of the new servers.

 

I've also heard some say Lich is already the unofficial EU RP server, but I can't find that anywhere unless it's through word of mouth, and that's definitely not a good way of letting the community know.

[Virella]

I've also heard some say Lich is already the unofficial EU RP server, but I can't find that anywhere unless it's through word of mouth, and that's definitely not a good way of letting the community know.

I've tried to RP there... It wasn't something I'd enjoy

 

I would wait and see if people go to a new server.