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

[Nanamo]

 

I would be all for that, but the problems the datacentre location and those of us outside of the server faced with lockouts, let's not get started on how the launch of Stormblood on Aether is going to be, as a raider first I don't really like the sound of giving up my MS and the like for this.

 

As for the Lich crowd, the same is the case on Cerberus, we all have an RP community, we used to have a rather large one mid Heavensward, an LS of around 50 or so active members, we just didn't see the point of advertising here, if I wanted a small RP community I'd stay on Cerberus, but this is for the hope of a larger RP community on a new server with the enticing benefits bringing in potentially new players who will also be wanting a new start.

 

So those voting for Lich I personally see why you all are happy, but would you all consider moving if there was a larger RP community on the new server?

 

I personally wouldn't. There's no reason for me to move as people can transfer over to the new server or create a new character there. I have multiple versions of the same character on many servers. If I wanted to RP with the EU Balmung transfers, I could make another alt. It I wanted to RP on Balmung, I can use my Balmung alt. I don't do anything else with my RP alts, anyway. 

 

But if Lich's community were to grow, that would be fine, and the people I've talked to who have mains there and RP would be welcoming of newcomers and transfers alike. 

 

Then again, I'm an NA player, but I'm trying to keep different player perspectives in mind. Not everyone only RPs, so why move all the RPers to a new server when they can join an existing server with a more diverse base population? This way, they have opportunities to take part in a variety of activities rather than just come into contact with a primarily RP community from day one.

[Anehki]

Then again, I'm an NA player, but I'm trying to keep different player perspectives in mind. Not everyone only RPs, so why move all the RPers to a new server when they can join an existing server with a more diverse base population? This way, they have opportunities to take part in a variety of activities rather than just come into contact with a primarily RP community from day one.

 

Because it's baring in mind the server congestion and potential new EU players with a similliar mindset, without an unofficial EU RP server, we will -never- have the chance to make one, basically this same situation happened back at ARR launch, when people look for FFXIV RP they come here, out of curiousity, people direct us here, they try to get on Balmung/Gilg but mainly Balmung as they feel thats their only option half the time.

 

We should really think of new players mainly in this regard, hopefully Lich gets the bonuses from the free transfers also then it can also be considered, but i guess all we can do is wait for info and see where interest lies.

 

It's nice NA players are also giving their views, I just hope we make the most out of this transfer situation to set up a potentially great community to help spread out the niche's, whatever EU server we end up on we should all consider situation comes up once in a long occassion (one being ARR launch) and it's our chance to really progress the RP community within FF together!

[Impstatus]

Mmm, I really do not have anything constructive to since I never knew Lich had some minor RP action going on. More you know, and fortunately my main raiding character in at Lich atm

 

I hope its not too impudent to ask that from which FCs it would be best to look for roleplayers and event makers on Lich? This thread really sparked up my curiousity.

[Nanamo]

I hope its not too impudent to ask that from which FCs it would be best to look for roleplayers and event makers on Lich? This thread really sparked up my curiousity.

 

Not at all! Word of Love is one that I know has a good RP population. Their leader runs a Discord server called Silver Valkyrie Events. That channel focuses on RP and RP-related events, and they host a maid/host cafe called The Crystal Crown Cafe semi-regularly. 

 

The Sultansworn is my FC, which is comprised completely of alts whose mains are on other servers. We focus on NPC roleplayers, but host events every now and then and accept OCs too. We did a Murder Mystery Night and are starting to plan an RP Date auction as well.

 

I'd recommend getting in touch with Morgana Browne about other RP FCs. She can probably help you find one better than I ever can, since her main is there!

[Anehki]

Hey guys,

 

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in making a EU FF Roleplayers discord for those interested in the Unofficial EU RP server possibility? Maybe that will help us all keep communication going and help us all stay on the same page.

[Sig]

I strongly encourage all EU roleplayers to stay on Balmung.  The greatest threat to the long-term health of the RP community in FFXIV is gradual fragmentation, dwindling population numbers, and a slow decline that eventually kills the community.  We have seen this threat play out on a small scale countless times before when players attempt to create "alternative RP servers." The idea that RP could flourish on any server is nice, but it is simply not realistic and wastes the time of all parties involved in the effort.

 

Finding RP should not be a game that is won or lost depending on what sever you play on.  Roleplayers depends on large, vibrant, and diverse communities, and we should not allow artificial restrictions (like server choice) to limit our pool of potential RP partners and themes.

 

There is strength in numbers, and the one sustainable RP community that amounts to something more than a small 20-50 person clique (i.e. - Balmung) would be a much sadder place without our EU friends.

[Kilieit]

Yet again, the context of this discussion was that of Balmung becoming closed. I don't think it's a bad thing if people are willing to move away from Balmung to try and create a healthy community, that's open to new people, elsewhere.

 

I also don't think it's a bad thing if people decide they have too many eggs in the Balmung basket to want to leave, and decide to stay - like me. But we can still support the efforts of others to do something different. Those efforts have the chance of a very good payoff indeed (a second stable community), and IMO aren't actually at any serious risk of hurting "us". I think acting like they are is not helpful.

[Skae]

I strongly encourage all EU roleplayers to stay on Balmung.  The greatest threat to the long-term health of the RP community in FFXIV is gradual fragmentation, dwindling population numbers, and a slow decline that eventually kills the community.  We have seen this threat play out on a small scale countless times before when players attempt to create "alternative RP servers." The idea that RP could flourish on any server is nice, but it is simply not realistic and wastes the time of all parties involved in the effort.

 

Many other MMOs have more than one RP server - each with an active community.

The idea that FFXIV - one of the more popular MMOs right now - could not support more than one RP server is simply not realistic.

 

Right now few of the events or Free Companies on Balmung are suitable for EU-players anyway - so even if all the EU players moved off to another server (which isn't going to happen) it would not impact the NA players all that much.

[Nebbs]

I strongly encourage all EU roleplayers to stay on Balmung.  The greatest threat to the long-term health of the RP community in FFXIV is gradual fragmentation, dwindling population numbers, and a slow decline that eventually kills the community.  We have seen this threat play out on a small scale countless times before when players attempt to create "alternative RP servers."  The idea that RP could flourish on any server is nice, but it is simply not realistic and wastes the time of all parties involved in the effort.

 

Many other MMOs have more than one RP server - each with an active community.

The idea that FFXIV - one of the more popular MMOs right now - could not support more than one RP server is simply not realistic.

 

Right now few of the events or Free Companies on Balmung are suitable for EU-players anyway - so even if all the EU players moved off to another server (which isn't going to happen) it would not impact the NA players all that much.

 

 

I would also add that as more players join FFXIV then the possibility of an alternative to Balmung becomes more real, as for them Balmung is not an option. In fact if the block remains Balmung can only reduce in numbers.

 

So I feel it would be best to support the alternative, and by making this about the EU it has a better chance of reaching a workable RP size focused on the EU timezone. Additionally it would come with benefits like housing, which is not available on Balmung.

 

Though I will say I am not going to jump unless there is a clear solidarity around a server, and would likely create an alt to see how it goes then move as/if it takes off.

 

I also don't think this would harm Balmung, as there is sufficient number in the NA zone to more than sustain it. 

 

If I had two wishes for my play it would be:

• More EU RP (I have been actively focused on EU RP times and not NA)
  
• Housing to be fixed (just broken and wrong atm)
  

[Arty]

Right now, the RP community can't accept new people as the server is closed shut. I've always hated that most events on the server are NA centric and whenever a EU centric event was being made, NA people whined that they can't attend it that it should be moved to their time, and people budged for some reason. I guess mainly so they don't offend NA players?

 

This is one more reason why I'm all for a EU RP server.

[Impstatus]

Hey guys,

 

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in making a EU FF Roleplayers discord for those interested in the Unofficial EU RP server possibility? Maybe that will help us all keep communication going and help us all stay on the same page.

Seeing that "new 4.0 world" is the most popular vote, the time for making Discord to congregate, plan and prepare this huge attempt is now or never. To be clear, I'm not against any of this, just pointing that out. Balmung is not going to fall if EU datacenter actually successfully made it's own "unoffical RP server" happen. I mainly rp with few good friends, because a) not on Balmung, so catching event is not that simple b) even if there was events on Leviathan I think I could join my voice with those who fairly point out that NA RPC caters ideally to NA players. Which is right, but as with raiding I think I rather sleep when it's 4am for me, than catch static raid, or rp event x)

[Gwen]

Right now, the RP community can't accept new people as the server is closed shut. I've always hated that most events on the server are NA centric and whenever a EU centric event was being made, NA people whined that they can't attend it that it should be moved to their time, and people budged for some reason. I guess mainly so they don't offend NA players?

 

This is one more reason why I'm all for a EU RP server.

Yeah this is my biggest gripe with event hosters. Especially when they have two event nights, one for NA and one for EU... yet they still start it at almost midnight for us. Most "EU Friendly" things start at 11pm onwards and that's UK time so it's even later for the rest of Europe, which just isn't viable if you have to wake up early for work. 

 

That said, I think the biggest problem an EU server would have is the lack of random walkups. I can see nearly all the RP taking place in private housing and the best thing about Balmung's housing situation is that it forces people to find alternate RP spots.

[Flynn Bladebreaker]

Will be honest, if the RP hubs were all at housing areas, I wouldn't transfer. We have a big open world with plenty of hubs to use. I want to RP in that world, meet people in locations you'd expect to.

 

Please don't make housing the only place to find RP.

[Marissa Minoru]

As an EU person who's main (raid) character is on Lich, I'll be keeping my RP character on Balmung, but I would be more than happy to help establish or join in a community on Lich with my main character, or creating an alt on one of the new servers if people were to choose that. I just couldn't move Marissa from Balmung because of my connections. Not sure how often I would play with an alt though, especially with the release of Stormblood I will probably be completing that story on my main first before I go back to Balmung anyway since Marissa is only around level 30 ^^

[Anehki]

Will be honest, if the RP hubs were all at housing areas, I wouldn't transfer. We have a big open world with plenty of hubs to use. I want to RP in that world, meet people in locations you'd expect to.

 

Please don't make housing the only place to find RP.

 

When Cerberus was really active mid HW, we used to encourage people to RP in the citie's when the inn we hosted in a large house wasn't always open, and if people got too comfortable we'd host the inn somewhere like Costa for a fun event, and to raise awareness.

 

Nothing is stopping us from doing the likes of that with the new server we choose, I'd be happy to help host events with others as well.

 

Edit: For those interested in making the new server and planning here is a link to the discord so we can get started in talks and getting to know each other https://discord.gg/mW3j4FE

[Virella]

When Cerberus was really active mid HW, we used to encourage people to RP in the citie's when the inn we hosted in a large house wasn't always open, and if people got too comfortable we'd host the inn somewhere like Costa for a fun event, and to raise awareness.

Been on Cerberus myself, can vouch it was there, however it was slice of life themed roleplay with a handful of people. Not my piece of cake, at all. There's a reason why I made an alt on Balmung at the time and didn't bother to RP there. Unless the server community attitude changed, I won't tell people to go there. I really felt awkward roleplaying there. Like. Really. Besides, its locked often as well what I've been told by my old friends there.

 

So no, I can't vouch for that server. I had a very fun time there as a raider, but if I was forced to go there for roleplay? I'd just given up on RP on FFXIV all together.

[Sig]

I challenge anyone who supports the effort to create an alternative RP server to explain how this initiative will be different than the numerous other failed attempts to create alternative RP servers.  All prior attempts to create anything greater than a 20-50 person RP clique on another server have failed due to disorganization, conflicting player interests, and the lack of a player base large enough to sustain RP.  This time will be no different. 

 

Some posters express concern about the lack of EU events; however, it is very likely that there will be even /less/ events to attend if EU players break off from the general population and form their own community.  There will also be less potential RP partners and types of RP.  You will not have a sufficient player base to sustain a vibrant, diverse, and healthy RP community in the long-term.

 

It is one thing for a few new RPers who physically can't access Balmung at the present time to select a server to play on until Balmung is open for transfer, it's another thing to repeat the failed efforts of the past and divide a vibrant RP community.

[Skae]

I challenge anyone who supports the effort to create an alternative RP server to explain how this initiative will be different than the numerous other failed attempts to create alternative RP servers.  All prior attempts to create anything greater than a 20-50 person RP clique on another server have failed due to disorganization, conflicting player interests, and the lack of a player base large enough to sustain RP.  This time will be no different. 

 

Main difference would be that it is impossible to get onto Balmung right now and for an indeterminate future.

Therefore any new people will HAVE to go elsewhere. This combined with the promised incentives for moving to the coming new servers should result in a good chance of getting enough players to be viable.

 

No guarantees that it will work, of course, but probably a better chance than it would have at any other time.

[Kylin]

I would personally prefer to see EU RPers stick with everyone else in the grand scheme of things. That said, I'm not EU and have absolutely zero right to add input on that. I don't know how their gameplay experience is and thus have no right to comment on it. However, there's just one thing I want to comment on because I've seen it crop up more than once now (and I don't mean to call you out specifically, Sig... just an in general rebuttal of the overall view from the many I see mention this).

 

I challenge anyone who supports the effort to create an alternative RP server to explain how this initiative will be different than the numerous other failed attempts to create alternative RP servers.  All prior attempts to create anything greater than a 20-50 person RP clique on another server have failed due to disorganization, conflicting player interests, and the lack of a player base large enough to sustain RP.  This time will be no different. 

 

I keep seeing people mention "numerous attempts." As someone who's been around forever, there's only been ONE singular organized attempt--Gilgamesh. All of the other 'attempts' can't really be counted in my opinion. They were, after all, nothing more than some random RPer holding up a sign and saying "come to my server! I have a linkshell that RPs!" I personally don't view those as legitimate organized attempts of unifying for a secondary RP server... I applaud those people for trying to birth RP elsewhere, but to call it an organized attempt is definitely misleading.

 

As for the 'Gilgamesh Initiative,' it didn't really fail. In fact, it initially succeeded in spades. It tapered off over time for the following reasons:

1. Combative relationship with Balmung and the RPC. From the beginning of the whole legacy vs non-legacy debacle (which was proven to be an invalid concern), things were tense between Gilgamesh and Balmung. That doesn't help with maintaining a positive image.

2. Cutoff of relations. Gilgamesh, after securing the 'support' of the RPC and Balmung decided to largely cut themselves off and build a wall around them. Their visibility dropped more and more over time and they increasingly became invisible. That's not healthy for growth at all.

3. Griefing. Gilgamesh also had to deal with the Reddit/Raiding crowd who flocked to the server, and that didn't make things easy for them. It was the final nail in the coffin that drove most RPers out of the open world and into their private housing, thus making them even more invisible.

 

None of the above conditions exist for the new initiatives taking place. That said, I don't know if it's a good idea to have TWO splits that appear to be taking place (EU and NA). But that's really not my call to make and it's entirely on the EU crowd to determine how their play experience will be enhanced.

[Arty]

I challenge anyone who supports the effort to create an alternative RP server to explain how this initiative will be different than the numerous other failed attempts to create alternative RP servers.  All prior attempts to create anything greater than a 20-50 person RP clique on another server have failed due to disorganization, conflicting player interests, and the lack of a player base large enough to sustain RP.  This time will be no different. 

 

Some posters express concern about the lack of EU events; however, it is very likely that there will be even /less/ events to attend if EU players break off from the general population and form their own community.  There will also be less potential RP partners and types of RP.  You will not have a sufficient player base to sustain a vibrant, diverse, and healthy RP community in the long-term.

 

It is one thing for a few new RPers who physically can't access Balmung at the present time to select a server to play on until Balmung is open for transfer, it's another thing to repeat the failed efforts of the past and divide a vibrant RP community.

You are a NA player and can do both RP and PvE easily. EU players can't do both due to one little thing called LATENCY. I personally refuse to pay a monthly sub just for RP as I can't do anything other than that after the server move. EU server should be established.

 

And that is the difference between any former attempt and this one. We are forced to do this by a little fact that we can't play the game like we used to.

[Swanmay]

From a personal perspective, I think it's really a now or never situation. I'm certainly not suggesting everyone move and abandon the server they have come to call home, but creating a new EU-centric community would benefit a great many people in the long run. Particuarly as Balmung is closed to new characters and transfers for the time being.

 

I would like to say I have an alt that is ready to go, and I'll likely be starting an FC once we get the new servers so people can have some organised RP and newcomers can have a point of referral should they wish. Hopefully this will have an accompanying LS with it for those who don't want to join an FC just yet.

 

One concern that people seem to have is that RP will not thrive. Now, all I can really say to this is that it is up to us as a community to ensure that happens. It will be difficult at first, but if you want to see something happen then make it happen. Be the change you want to see in the server!

[Matchstixs]

You're right, Sig. However, if this were any other time I would be very much with you on the stance that this won't work. In this case, I am not.

 

They key difference? Transfers are free. This difference is near monumental. Whilst before I would agree that asking people to fork out $18 to transfer is too much and unlikely to foster a community, for free there is an unspeakable amount of freedom here. With an EU server we can have EU timed events, with proper ping, a more open housing market, gil xfer is near a non-issue - I can understand why people on Balmung may not want to transfer, but EU RPers that don't want to/can't play on Balmung? It's perfect.

 

With a fresh server, with a hefty gil limit (10m you, 5m retainers, that's minimum of 20m per character without any extra retainers? If they count. I'm not 100% sure), it's possible for entire FCs that are scattered across the EU Data-Center to finally converge without much/any personal loss and is also a place to flag for new players/RPers. They might even be able to upgrade FC or personal houses if they wanted to, thanks to the availability.

 

There is almost always more than one community on various MMOS, NA and EU. EU is nearly always the smallest and scattered as we are now, this is a wonderful chance to finally converge.

(( Also, as a note for housing. 60 per ward, twelve wards is 720. Four regions is 2,880 plots (provided Shirogane holds the same number). And 8,640 apartments. ))

 

 

Sorry if this came out a bit jumbled, I'm working on barely any sleep and I'm sick to boot

 

EDIT: SWANMAY SAID IT IS SO MUCH BETTER TERMS THAN I DID.

[Sig]

I challenge anyone who supports the effort to create an alternative RP server to explain how this initiative will be different than the numerous other failed attempts to create alternative RP servers.  All prior attempts to create anything greater than a 20-50 person RP clique on another server have failed due to disorganization, conflicting player interests, and the lack of a player base large enough to sustain RP.  This time will be no different. 

 

Some posters express concern about the lack of EU events; however, it is very likely that there will be even /less/ events to attend if EU players break off from the general population and form their own community.  There will also be less potential RP partners and types of RP.  You will not have a sufficient player base to sustain a vibrant, diverse, and healthy RP community in the long-term.

 

It is one thing for a few new RPers who physically can't access Balmung at the present time to select a server to play on until Balmung is open for transfer, it's another thing to repeat the failed efforts of the past and divide a vibrant RP community.

You are a NA player and can do both RP and PvE easily. EU players can't do both due to one little thing called LATENCY. I personally refuse to pay a monthly sub just for RP as I can't do anything other than that after the server move. EU server should be established.

 

And that is the difference between any former attempt and this one. We are forced to do this by a little fact that we can't play the game like we used to.

 

Actually, I have erratic play schedules and also can't partake of most NA timezone material.  And most EU players I know hover around 150-200 ping after the database transfers, which is completely manageable [my ping from the west coast US used to be around that before data center relocation].  The sky does not appear to be falling for most EU players I know.  I'm sorry you're having difficulties.

 

I still have not seen a viable argument how a server move will result in anything more than a tiny 20-50 person RP community.  Free transfers will not fix things. Please understand that those types of communities are severely limited in scope of RP, content, frequency of RP, and generally taper off after a few months, rendering everyone's efforts wasted.  RPers need large and vibrant central RP hubs, or RP ends up more about scrounging up participants than the actual content.

 

I don't want to see great EU RP'ers run off into the dark to form a tiny conclave of RP that gradually tapers off and dies over time. NA and EU RPers need each other. RP'ers need to stick together for the sake of quality RP, man. We need to bring it in for a giant Balmung group hug.

[DeletedUser]

Hey guys,

 

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in making a EU FF Roleplayers discord for those interested in the Unofficial EU RP server possibility? Maybe that will help us all keep communication going and help us all stay on the same page.

 

I'm in a discord right now about potentially establishing an alternative server which includes NA and EU - link here. I do like the idea of an EU one specifically but this one is already off the ground and I think efforts should be consolidated or it's going to be even harder to organise what's already a fractured population.

 

As for an EU RP server itself, I'm still not convinced it'll pan out. I'm happy to throw alts around and see how it goes but I'm not optimistic enough to start trying to convince my FC and friends to consider moving. I've been on low pop realms in WoW before and ultimately transferred to Argent Dawn because it was impossible to find RP. I'm aware that the difference here is there is no option to transfer to the big server if you're a newcomer, but I don't see it ending well. Call me jaded; that's just how I feel.

 

That said, my ping doubling overnight does worry me too. But RP is what I'm here for at the end of the day, and my home is going to be where the RP is regardless of how many times I'll fall off the ledge on Titan.

[Swanmay]

I challenge anyone who supports the effort to create an alternative RP server to explain how this initiative will be different than the numerous other failed attempts to create alternative RP servers.  All prior attempts to create anything greater than a 20-50 person RP clique on another server have failed due to disorganization, conflicting player interests, and the lack of a player base large enough to sustain RP.  This time will be no different. 

 

Some posters express concern about the lack of EU events; however, it is very likely that there will be even /less/ events to attend if EU players break off from the general population and form their own community.  There will also be less potential RP partners and types of RP.  You will not have a sufficient player base to sustain a vibrant, diverse, and healthy RP community in the long-term.

 

It is one thing for a few new RPers who physically can't access Balmung at the present time to select a server to play on until Balmung is open for transfer, it's another thing to repeat the failed efforts of the past and divide a vibrant RP community.

You are a NA player and can do both RP and PvE easily. EU players can't do both due to one little thing called LATENCY. I personally refuse to pay a monthly sub just for RP as I can't do anything other than that after the server move. EU server should be established.

 

And that is the difference between any former attempt and this one. We are forced to do this by a little fact that we can't play the game like we used to.

 

Actually, I have erratic play schedules and also can't partake of most NA timezone material.  And most EU players I know hover around 150-200 ping after the database transfers, which is completely manageable [my ping from the west coast US used to be around that before data center relocation].  The sky does not appear to be falling for most EU players I know.  I'm sorry you're having difficulties.

 

I still have not seen a viable argument how a server move will result in anything more than a tiny 20-50 person RP community.  Please understand that those types of communities are severely limited in scope of RP, content, frequency of RP, and generally taper off after a few months, rendering everyone's efforts wasted.  RPers need large and vibrant central RP hubs, or RP ends up more about scrounging up participants than the actual content.

 

I don't want to see great EU RP'ers run off into the dark to form a tiny conclave of RP that gradually tapers off and dies over time.  RP'ers need to stick together for the sake of quality RP, man.

 

The point of the thread is yes, to encourage people to move, but it is also about setting up a community for those who are coming into the game with Stormblood and as of now have nowehere to go. As Balmung is the only unofficial RP server to date, and is closed for the forseeable. Furthermore, you are discounting the many people who always come into a game as of the expansion release (I was a heavensward baby myself) and those who are not on the RPC for whatever reason.

 

So yes, 20-50 players on the RPC may move but with time and dedication that could grow to become a sister community to Balmung.