If SE was to designate an RP server, would you move?

[Sig]

Hi, my name is Oswin.

 

You might remember me from such posts as "Dear lord, there are a lot of RP communites" as well as "Will this jackass shut up about server numbers?".

 

 

Edited: I am horrible at reading before morning coffee.

 

Designating alternative unofficial RP servers has not worked and will not work.  It will produce nothing more or less than a small, homogenized clique of RPers that will eventually stagnate, and it decreases the frequency, diversity, and types of roleplay available to everyone.

 

RPers should be supporting the request to designate an official RP server.  We should be posting on the official forums (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/324942-Transfer-Restrictions-and-Roleplayers) and trying to bring this issue to SE's attention however we can.  It's a request that virtually /everyone/ can get behind, and it would benefit the RP community immensely in the long-term.

[Kylin]

He did not make a personal attack at you. He was linking his own posts and poking fun at himself (Ie: calling himself a "jackass")...

 

Also, copying/pasting the same thing over and over is exactly the reason I personally stopped taking you seriously a long time ago. You've completely disregarded everything anyone else has said and continued to post the same exact response every time, even though certain points of your responses have been proven wrong with factual data. While your passion is admirable, your disconnect with the RP political world is astounding. You seem to think EVERYONE else is wrong and you alone are right. Your solution of letting RPers scatter to the winds while waiting until Balmung's community is ready to receive them is detrimental to the health and longevity to the overall community. If you are unable to see that at this point (even though just about EVERYONE else does), then so be it. Don't be surprised when you start getting outright ignored though at this point.

[Askier]

May I point out that, even if SE DOES make an official rp server, that server, like Balmung, will fill up. And, once it's locked, they will have to make a new rp server and thus the community will be split. Only now officially split. SE shut down the server for technical issues related to server stability and functionality, not cause they hate roleplayers. Making them open an official rp server won't stop the split. Wow had like 10 rp servers, many of which were full. There is no reason the community of roleplayers cant designate a new rp server and use it on our own. We shouldnt continue to beat drums and dead horses on SE'S door, demanding they tell RPers where they should or shouldn't flock too. We're all thinking people with educations and brains. Sure we can figure this out. We made Balmung work after all.

 

Less you need a corporate mandated and designated rp safe space or something. And then you have bigger issues

[Sig]

He did not make a personal attack at you. He was linking his own posts and poking fun at himself (Ie: calling himself a "jackass")...

 

Thank you for pointing this out.  I suck at reading before morning coffee.

 

The problems with designating unofficial RP servers are systemic, and I've addressed the issue more times than I can recall (and never really heard a persuasive counter argument that explains why the problems will not be an issue the 20th time around).

 

The solution to this problem is simple: SE should designate an official RP server.  And this is far more achievable than most people believe.

[Sig]

May I point out that, even if SE DOES make an official rp server, that server, like Balmung, will fill up. And, once it's locked, they will have to make a new rp server and thus the community will be split. Only now officially split. SE shut down the server for technical issues related to server stability and functionality, not cause they hate roleplayers. Making them open an official rp server won't stop the split. Wow had like 10 rp servers, many of which were full. There is no reason the community of roleplayers cant designate a new rp server and use it on our own. We shouldnt continue to beat drums and dead horses on SE'S door, demanding they tell RPers where they should or shouldn't flock too. We're all thinking people with educations and brains. Sure we can figure this out. We made Balmung work after all.

 

Less you need a corporate mandated and designated rp safe space or something. And then you have bigger issues

 

I don't understand why people believe that a request that was made years ago to SE under completely different circumstances is even mildly indicative to what they would do now.  No one has bothered really pressing this issue recently because Balmung has been available as a central RP hub.

 

Unofficial server designations for an alternative RP server have not and will not work.  Balmung is a testament to this.

[Gegenji]

Unofficial RP server designations have not and will not work.  Balmung is a testament to this.

 

... It's the server everyone knows is the RP server, the one people know to flock to, has a thriving RP population to the point that it's overcrowded... and SE didn't have to lift a finger to do it.

 

Yes, it sure didn't work.

[Kage]

There's many reasons for 'another unofficial (but certainly not lesser) RP server' to fail but leaving it up to SE to do the shit the RP community should and can do is the worst reason to let it.

 

While people can and are certainly not discouraged from asking SE to designate a server, the RP community is best served by its own members taking the reins and putting foot to ground so to speak. Relying on SE to do something about something we as a community can do is a fool's move.

[ExAtomos]

What's kind of interesting to me is that some folks are saying there really aren't as many RPers as people seem to think and others are stating that putting all RPers in one previously empty server will make it just as full as Balmung is now.

 

Thus far, the only arguments against moving to an official RP server are:

 

1. But muh house

2. I'll only move if other people move

3. I'm against all RPers being in one place

 

I'm getting the feeling that the most divisive bit about the official server/1 server vs. multiple servers thing is how many RPers the individual thinks are out there. I support consolidation because I don't think there are as many RPers as we'd like to think there are. Putting all RPers in one bucket with their "I enjoy watching RP but not participating" friends and I would say we'd be a mid pop server. I do agree with the whole "we'd still be full" argument on one thing... it takes a crowd to draw a crowd (this was my mantra for organizing events on Atomos); this means that many non-rpers could still potentially flock to the RP server just because it is the most ACTIVE in the open world.

[Sig]

Unofficial RP server designations have not and will not work.  Balmung is a testament to this.

 

... It's the server everyone knows is the RP server, the one people know to flock to, has a thriving RP population to the point that it's overcrowded... and SE didn't have to lift a finger to do it.

 

Yes, it sure didn't work.

 

Thanks for pointing out typo. Edited. Unofficial server designations for an /alternative/ RP server have not and will not work.

[Flynn Bladebreaker]

Unofficial server designations for an alternative RP server have not and will not work.  Balmung is a testament to this.

 

They will work with enough attention and support from the community. Just like Balmung, minus SE's hardware capabilities which is forcing us to pick an extra place.

 

But what do I know, I'm not an expert.

 

 

 

[Papajimboh]

Unofficial server designations for an alternative RP server have not and will not work.  Balmung is a testament to this.

 

They will work with enough attention and support from the community. Just like Balmung, minus SE's hardware capabilities which is forcing us to pick an extra place.

 

But what do I know, I'm not an expert.

 

 

 

 

 

The spoiler alert on that made me chuckle.

[Mercer]

Unofficial server designations for an alternative RP server have not and will not work.  Balmung is a testament to this.

 

They will work with enough attention and support from the community. Just like Balmung, minus SE's hardware capabilities which is forcing us to pick an extra place.

 

But what do I know, I'm not an expert.

 

 

 

 

 

[Mercer]

Unofficial server designations for an alternative RP server have not and will not work.  Balmung is a testament to this.

 

They will work with enough attention and support from the community. Just like Balmung, minus SE's hardware capabilities which is forcing us to pick an extra place.

 

But what do I know, I'm not an expert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BROTHER SIG! I knew you'd come. 

 

It has become quiet evident that you refuse to partake in lines of reasoning that do not line up to your own. You wish to depend on the actions of the Square Enix on the hopes that their whims may correct the course we have set the server on.

 

Many dispute these claims, saying that it has not worked before so we should have little faith going forward. Their views are PRAGMATIC, wishing to create a solution themselves rather than waiting for the Square Enix to chance upon the plight of a minority.

 

Balmung has grown too large and already buckles under it's own weight. Free Company houses become inaccessible, Free Company workshops and private rooms become locked behind a wall of Server Instability! These are not theories, but the realities of how Balmung has become Obsolete!

 

You say that such actions before have been met with failure, I disagree! There has never been such an occasion in XIV's history that has required the RP community act so swiftly. To be relaxed in such a position is an invitation for destruction! By ignoring the fresh lifeblood of our community we ensure that we shall starve!

 

This is a GLORIOUS opportunity for communities to grow and prosper. They are perhaps niche right now, as you have said, but as new players go to these communities they will grow beyond their previous boundaries into a wonderful new existence!

 

 

[Leggerless]

Is... is it over?

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Is... is it over?

 

If I got a gil for every time I heard this, I could generate enough actual money through RMT to pay our server costs.

[Rosekitten]

I'm still on the side where I don't care what server is being appointed (by SE or the community) I'm willing to pack up and move. I've had a good load of fun on Balmung but given the type of character that I play I think building a community foundation would be a better place for her. Also anyone I had ties to in game have long up and left so I'm one of the few I guess with no real ties holding me back to stay on Balmung. 

 

Still standing by what I sad in other threads, so long as the secondary server/world is supported by the community and isn't shunned out like a lost puppy with mange.. things will work out just fine. With time and effort everything grows.

 

So more back on topic.. would I move? Heck yeah. The only bonus I can think of is if the transfer is free. <3

 

Also to note on the push for an official RP server... What if the population is too large for a single server? It would be the same issue in that the server would become locked and the community would yet still have to divide. Also I have never seen anything wrong with multiple rp communities in a game.. Other mmos have multiple rp servers and most of those communities do just fine. Each server having it's own timeline, events and what not. Sure some are larger than others but nothing will be perfect.

[Sig]

Unofficial server designations for an alternative RP server have not and will not work.  Balmung is a testament to this.

 

 

You say that such actions before have been met with failure, I disagree! There has never been such an occasion in XIV's history that has required the RP community act so swiftly. To be relaxed in such a position is an invitation for destruction! By ignoring the fresh lifeblood of our community we ensure that we shall starve!

 

This is a GLORIOUS opportunity for communities to grow and prosper. They are perhaps niche right now, as you have said, but as new players go to these communities they will grow beyond their previous boundaries into a wonderful new existence!

 

 

 

 

Unofficial "alternative" server designations are flawed because they do little more than divide the RP community across artificial barriers [servers], cause RP stagnation/homogenization, and are not an effective long-term solution to population issues. No argument has refuted this.

 

The overwhelming super majority of RPers value having a large, healthy, and diverse central RP hub.  The popularity and size of Balmung is a testament to this.  We need to be taking action to ensure that there is a centralized RP hub, as opposed to scattering the RP population across multiple servers.  I'm sorry if the importance of this goes overlooked because we take Balmung for granted, and it is difficult to evaluate remote contingencies.

 

I appreciate your recent efforts to identify servers where RP communities exist so newcomers will know where to go, but trying (for the upteenth time) to go down the failed path of an unofficial alternative serve designation is a waste of time for all parties.  In fact, those who stand the most to lose are people who toss their eggs in the alternative server basket, as most RPers are likely to transfer back to Balmung when the restriction is lifted (likely 2-3 months), and the community on "alternative RP servers" will remain small, isolated, and homogeneous (and sadly stagnate over time). I don't want to see this happen to RPers.

 

This is why RPers should take action to pursue a very attainable goal: getting an official RP server designation (or revocation of the transfer ban).

[ArmachiA]

I'm still on the side where I don't care what server is being appointed (by SE or the community) I'm willing to pack up and move. I've had a good load of fun on Balmung but given the type of character that I play I think building a community foundation would be a better place for her. Also anyone I had ties to in game have long up and left so I'm one of the few I guess with no real ties holding me back to stay on Balmung. 

 

Still standing by what I sad in other threads, so long as the secondary server/world is supported by the community and isn't shunned out like a lost puppy with mange.. things will work out just fine. With time and effort everything grows.

 

So more back on topic.. would I move? Heck yeah. The only bonus I can think of is if the transfer is free. <3

 

I'm actually on this side too, and apparently so is my FC. If we see transfers open up and we get some pretty good incentives (We want to be able to keep our formation date intact), we'de be willing to move off the server if there's a concerted effort of the rp community to do so.

 

I went to Mateus and it's pretty lively, rolled an alt there and people seem friendly - I just haven't had time to level that alt there yet haha. If they opened transfers off, I'd be willing to plant my FC there if I saw others were willing to do the same.

[Hyrist]

Thinking a good scenario would be - 

 

The creation of a new server. It would also have to coincide with a housing expansion, likely.

 

It would involve the server first being opened by people transferring off of Balmung, housing would switch 1 to 1 for those who transferred. 

 

At that point, the one of two scenarios would be up to SE, regardless of which designate one or the other server as the RP Server. 

 

They could hold the housing expansion off for those transferring from other servers to the designated RP server. Then either have houses transfer 1 to 1, or offer full refunds and have it be first-come-first served.

 

I'd honestly think this could be accomplished sooner if they held back further housing expansions until they could effectively double housing, then merge a couple low-population servers together to free up space for this idea. This is only if they can't afford the creation of new servers due to population disparity.

 

But in the end - I think overall the above methods may be the only real solution to the population disparity problem - Merge the low population servers, use the freed up space to offer splits for special interest servers such as RP.

[ArmachiA]

^^ That's a good idea actually.

 

It would basically be a server split but you choose if you wanna go or not,.

[Mercer]

Unofficial server designations for an alternative RP server have not and will not work.  Balmung is a testament to this.

 

 

You say that such actions before have been met with failure, I disagree! There has never been such an occasion in XIV's history that has required the RP community act so swiftly. To be relaxed in such a position is an invitation for destruction! By ignoring the fresh lifeblood of our community we ensure that we shall starve!

 

This is a GLORIOUS opportunity for communities to grow and prosper. They are perhaps niche right now, as you have said, but as new players go to these communities they will grow beyond their previous boundaries into a wonderful new existence!

 

 

 

 

This is why RPers should take action to pursue a very attainable goal: getting an official RP server designation (or revocation of the transfer ban).

 

 

Brother Sig, it seems we are fated to spin along this spiral of debate forevah! Your claim that such goals are attainable is OBSOLETE! There is past precedents that the Square Enix will not submit to the demands of the noble RP army and will instead put a blind ear to our cries.

 

Neither shall Balmung reopen and giving the command for other RPers to simply submit to this decision in hopes the Square Enix will reopen the capital is FOOLISH! The creation of characters has been locked for years, and even still Balmung has grown until the server bends under it's own population. To think that Balmung may survive such an undertaking during the biggest content release of the year is simply FOLLY!

 

Your arguement holds little weight in the raging river that is the current tide. It is like a whisper going against a typhoon, trying to be heard. But I assure you Brother Sig, that I will at least hear your voice. I will hear your voice and I will refute it, for ours is a debate that will cycle on and on until the very server walls come crashing down.

 

 

[ckingch]

To answer the topic question, I'd only move if I were able to transfer my house and the circle of friends I RP with. The house is integral to my RP as it is my character's store, and I do get plenty of traffic and RP in there. My group of people my character interacts with? Well, they all individually have thier own web of friends, FCs, LS', and friends they are intertwined with as well. So, I'm stuck on Balming whether I like it or not.

[Athil]

I would possibly move if the house/FC could move with it. I'm casual enough about gil making that trying to grab another house would be difficult. An officially dedicated RP server will always attract RPers over time, even with Balmung as established as it is.

 

That said, a big part of that would be hoping that several of the connections that I've made go as well. The Balmung community is pretty great already.

[Miah Gamduhla]

Like others here, I would only move off of Balmung if houses/furnishings moved as well.

 

Housing is such a huge investment that simply tossing it in the trash is out of the question. It takes so much gil and a huge amount of luck to get one. This extends to apartments as well.

 

Then theres also the problem with how big of a gamble that moving will be. I'm sure that many would move, but I'm also sure that many will not. If you move, will you be able to find a group you mesh well with? You better be sure that you do because there likely won't be any going back to Balmung if you don't like the new server.

[Tsukiko Tanshi]

No, because I have been through several server launches when playing WoW, and I have seen enough of what happens to know that creating a server with an RP tag but nothing else to set it apart or give it advanced functionality for RP'ers beyond adding two letters onto the server name does nothing but congest server lists and fracture an already niche base. It sounds great and needed now, but long term it's a pretty bad deal and actually isn't even the bandage that Balmung (and Gilgamesh to an extent) really needs.

 

WoW started up with five official and labeled role-play servers upon release. Over the next five years, they added in 12 more - including the niche PvP-RP servers. There were no more servers added past 2009 that were role-play specific, the utter last one being Wyrmrest Accord. Over time, those 17 servers effectively smushed back down to nine servers using cross-realm technology - three of these are standalone servers, with one of them at not quite 200k population (and thus too large to mash into the others without making them too large and thus defeating the point of cross-realm), and the other two at ~560k and ~640k. 

 

 

As someone who started on one of the original five, I remember when each of the new role-play servers opened. I remember the exodus of role-players from the servers, spilling into the new one in hope of a new oasis, I remember the claims of making things better. I remember the 'foundations' that were thunked down onto each new server, and I remember the absolute elitism and 'popular people' battles that went down on each of them, scattering people as wars were waged over who had the prettier princess and who owned the Park tavern.

 

 

I also remember the servers filling up with PvE players and PvP players - which helped with actually getting things done on the servers, until new servers opened up again and people once again flooded, sometimes split between two, and the communities would shrink and the cycle would begin again, leaving behind crippled communities that once thrived as best they could in their smaller states. Over and over, time after time, until finally the tide broke against Moon Guard and Wyrmrest Accord and people gathered on those because there was nowhere else to go - and the servers that were left behind suffered, leeching people to larger servers until the cross-realms went into effect.

 

 

The server was temporarily closed to help make it easier for the server to survive the launch of Stormblood. It was never announced to be closing permanently, only until the active player population has stabilized. Will I take the temporary server closure over getting through a huge queue only to get dropped right back into it when the server collapses? Uhm, yes. Will I take the temporary closure over having to endure restarts when something bugs because the amount of people in an area somehow make the MSQ line break and no one can get through it, thus putting me right back into that damned queue? Yes. 

 

 

An 'official' tag does nothing, means nothing. It doesn't ban people who don't RP from the server (which is a bad idea anyway), and at what point should a server close? Balmung's only true issue is the lack of housing for the masses, something that seems to be of higher value to players than the community itself (which is very much thriving), or the stability of the game they pay to play. If housing is so important, what happens when an 'official' server grows too big? When it gets locked down during launches? When people have to pay to get on? Does it lock down when there is no available housing any longer? What about people who can't get housing? Does another server open, dividing an already small playerbase niche even tinier?

 

 

Does it suck to have people have to wait for a bit to get onto a server? Yeah, sure. There's nothing stopping people from rolling on a small pop world and playing with the friend that wants to transfer in until they can, either - especially with next to nothing to do until launch. You don't need to be in-game to role-play, and you don't need to be on the same server to do dungeons together. If people have no ties to Balmung and want to move off? Then do so, but don't sit there waiting for a tag that will do nothing special. Anyone who wants to come to FFXIV to role-play is going to do a little bit of research and figure things out themselves.

 

 

This server closure is temporary so that we can actually play the game at launch. There is not going to be stagnation - a tide of people will come back, play, get burned out, leave. More people will come in, as once the flood abates, the doors will open again.  Role-players are consistently the niche set in just about any MMO, and are often community driven. Getting ourselves a status tag was barely asking for anything. Asking for an official RP server sounds great now, until there's a bunch of official RP servers where the actual RP community is negligible enough that it's really just a PvE server with some people who like to play pretend.