The Importance of Consolidating RP on Balmung and Having One RP Hub

[Nodem]

This is a very good point as well but I would like to clarify that it's on a different server level. Correct me if I'm wrong, Merc, but from my understanding as a Sys Admin the instance servers are more like a server farm that is connected to all the other Aether servers. Realistically, there should be enough servers to handle the load. If we go by the server limit it should be able to handle 7,500 players per server. Divided up Aether should be able to handle that load.

 

If I had to guess (well, an educated guess based on people's work doing packet analysis and reverse engineering on both 1.0 and 2.0 server architecture), our instance servers are nearly identical to our normal zone servers. They likely just have a different set of scripts on them and the client handles the rest of the connections.

 

FFXIV utilizes a number of different servers at different stages of gameplay. I'll go over a few in text and then I'll link in a handy picture (and edit the post) for a basic explanation of the server setup that's likely in place.

 

FFXIV uses the following (and likely more than one)

 

Authorization Server - your login credentials

Patch Server - self explanatory

 

Once you've logged in on the launcher, it creates your basic session credentials, which are passed to the FFXIV game client. (Which is why you can't just run ffxiv.exe directly). For security's sake, I'll omit what that looks like. 3rd party launcher do exist (not including bots). They're insecure and not really useful if the real launcher is working.

 

Once the game is running, you'll notice that it had initially asked you which datacenter you wanted to play on. This is important! It it was brings you to the next step of gameplay.

 

Lobby Server - This is what loads your account information based off the session created from the Auth server and and game client. Traffic is encrypted now! (Good job SE. Don't turn that off again.)

 

The Lobby Server handles everything until you actually get in game. It handles selecting other data centers (new lobby server), making/deleting/editing characters, and eventually passing off your session over to the next server in charge of things.

 

World Server - These are the named worlds. Balmung, Gilgamesh, Mateus, whatever. This server handles global functions in the game for all players connected to it. Things like your linkshells, party, free company, market boards, retainers, and more! You are ALWAYS connected to this server. At the same time, it's rapidly passing data to a series of additional servers you might also be connected to. We're not sure, but status effects are probably stored in this server's working memory, even if they get handled below.

 

Zone Server - Also known as Map servers, Instance servers, and probably a few more things. This server is where the magic really happens. It's what sends the game client constant updates on what you see and can interact with. All of the game's actors (players, mobs, npcs, interactable objects) exist in this level. It has a TON of things to do and also has to make sure it broadcasts that to every player connected. It's also needs to check in with the World Server to make sure that your chats and party information are synced. And that's on top of running all the events, scripts, monster AI, FATEs, hunts, and other cool things that make the game work.

 

Now, there are multiple zone servers. There has to be or the game would only be able to support a very meager amount of connections. (Think like less than 1000). If you ever got that error message saying "cannot enter zone" it's because this server's overworked for that area. Most likely, we've got at least one of these for every map in the game and possibly per housing ward, although it's entirely possibly all wards are compressed together and that particular zone server just knows how to keep them separated from each other. (FFXIV supported creating private instance areas layered on top of normal maps. This is how levequests, instance battles, and inn rooms are handled, for example!)

 

--

 

Now, what happens when a server's full? There are multiple places this can happen!

 

The world is full. The world server's unable to handle more connections in a safe manner. This could mean the maximum amount of concurrent connections are all being used, it could mean that it's not able to broadcast packets to all players, and it can also mean that it's getting stressed from too much context switching if it's connecting/disconnections thousands of players at a time to try to keep up with all its global functions.

 

The zone is full. Mostly explain above already, that particular zone instance is maxed out. It can't reliably broadcast packets for everything it needs to do in a timely manner because of CPU/network constraints.

 

--

 

So why can't SE just give a world server or a particular zone server more resources? It doesn't work that way. When the lock these servers down, it's largely due to network contraints. I've explained this in earlier posts already, but there's no way to allocate more or "better" network connections to a server. When a server gets stressed in these situations, that typically means it's time to go into load balancing or to restrict how many connections are allowed. (FFXIV has done both!)

 

Who remembers the split zones when 3.0 launched? I do! It was a MESS. This was an early attempt from SE to get multiple zone servers handling the same area. (Good on them. Their architecture allowed them to do this!) If any of you remember, it'd arbritrarily select a zone for you. Didn't get grouped with your party? Too bad so sad. The zone servers were split to make sure they could keep running. Not for your party and/or group! In some games, players re given the option to switch between these instances. (Sometimes referred to as a shard or channel). But this only works if the zone server can accept more connections to start.

 

OK. Picture time. It uses some different names, but I believe you all. Please.

 

(credit to the FFXIV private server projects. This one came from FFXIV Classic).

 

This is a basic illustration of only a single World/Zone server cluster. Since at this point in the game, there's no reason to be connecting to the authorization server or lobby server. (But who knows. FFXIV might keep the lobby server too since it likes to kick us back often. ...or the session lasts a REALLY long time and that's how the Chinese bots hacked the game once.)

 

Here's the entire reason Balmung as the sole RP community will not work.

 

Also I recall those horrid instanced zones, and then the zone line selection didn't help it any. Killed your chances for doing lots of things.

[Val]

This is a very good point as well but I would like to clarify that it's on a different server level. Correct me if I'm wrong, Merc, but from my understanding as a Sys Admin the instance servers are more like a server farm that is connected to all the other Aether servers. Realistically, there should be enough servers to handle the load. If we go by the server limit it should be able to handle 7,500 players per server. Divided up Aether should be able to handle that load.

 

If I had to guess (well, an educated guess based on people's work doing packet analysis and reverse engineering on both 1.0 and 2.0 server architecture), our instance servers are nearly identical to our normal zone servers. They likely just have a different set of scripts on them and the client handles the rest of the connections.

 

FFXIV utilizes a number of different servers at different stages of gameplay. I'll go over a few in text and then I'll link in a handy picture (and edit the post) for a basic explanation of the server setup that's likely in place.

 

FFXIV uses the following (and likely more than one)

 

Authorization Server - your login credentials

Patch Server - self explanatory

 

Once you've logged in on the launcher, it creates your basic session credentials, which are passed to the FFXIV game client. (Which is why you can't just run ffxiv.exe directly). For security's sake, I'll omit what that looks like. 3rd party launcher do exist (not including bots). They're insecure and not really useful if the real launcher is working.

 

Once the game is running, you'll notice that it had initially asked you which datacenter you wanted to play on. This is important! It it was brings you to the next step of gameplay.

 

Lobby Server - This is what loads your account information based off the session created from the Auth server and and game client. Traffic is encrypted now! (Good job SE. Don't turn that off again.)

 

The Lobby Server handles everything until you actually get in game. It handles selecting other data centers (new lobby server), making/deleting/editing characters, and eventually passing off your session over to the next server in charge of things.

 

World Server - These are the named worlds. Balmung, Gilgamesh, Mateus, whatever. This server handles global functions in the game for all players connected to it. Things like your linkshells, party, free company, market boards, retainers, and more! You are ALWAYS connected to this server. At the same time, it's rapidly passing data to a series of additional servers you might also be connected to. We're not sure, but status effects are probably stored in this server's working memory, even if they get handled below.

 

Zone Server - Also known as Map servers, Instance servers, and probably a few more things. This server is where the magic really happens. It's what sends the game client constant updates on what you see and can interact with. All of the game's actors (players, mobs, npcs, interactable objects) exist in this level. It has a TON of things to do and also has to make sure it broadcasts that to every player connected. It's also needs to check in with the World Server to make sure that your chats and party information are synced. And that's on top of running all the events, scripts, monster AI, FATEs, hunts, and other cool things that make the game work.

 

Now, there are multiple zone servers. There has to be or the game would only be able to support a very meager amount of connections. (Think like less than 1000). If you ever got that error message saying "cannot enter zone" it's because this server's overworked for that area. Most likely, we've got at least one of these for every map in the game and possibly per housing ward, although it's entirely possibly all wards are compressed together and that particular zone server just knows how to keep them separated from each other. (FFXIV supported creating private instance areas layered on top of normal maps. This is how levequests, instance battles, and inn rooms are handled, for example!)

 

--

 

Now, what happens when a server's full? There are multiple places this can happen!

 

The world is full. The world server's unable to handle more connections in a safe manner. This could mean the maximum amount of concurrent connections are all being used, it could mean that it's not able to broadcast packets to all players, and it can also mean that it's getting stressed from too much context switching if it's connecting/disconnections thousands of players at a time to try to keep up with all its global functions.

 

The zone is full. Mostly explain above already, that particular zone instance is maxed out. It can't reliably broadcast packets for everything it needs to do in a timely manner because of CPU/network constraints.

 

--

 

So why can't SE just give a world server or a particular zone server more resources? It doesn't work that way. When the lock these servers down, it's largely due to network contraints. I've explained this in earlier posts already, but there's no way to allocate more or "better" network connections to a server. When a server gets stressed in these situations, that typically means it's time to go into load balancing or to restrict how many connections are allowed. (FFXIV has done both!)

 

Who remembers the split zones when 3.0 launched? I do! It was a MESS. This was an early attempt from SE to get multiple zone servers handling the same area. (Good on them. Their architecture allowed them to do this!) If any of you remember, it'd arbritrarily select a zone for you. Didn't get grouped with your party? Too bad so sad. The zone servers were split to make sure they could keep running. Not for your party and/or group! In some games, players re given the option to switch between these instances. (Sometimes referred to as a shard or channel). But this only works if the zone server can accept more connections to start.

 

OK. Picture time. It uses some different names, but I believe you all. Please.

 

(credit to the FFXIV private server projects. This one came from FFXIV Classic).

 

This is a basic illustration of only a single World/Zone server cluster. Since at this point in the game, there's no reason to be connecting to the authorization server or lobby server. (But who knows. FFXIV might keep the lobby server too since it likes to kick us back often. ...or the session lasts a REALLY long time and that's how the Chinese bots hacked the game once.)

 

Thanks for this, Merc.

[Mercer]

Another point to make about the coming free transfers.

 

Guys, they are giving out game time to get off the server. SE is throwing away those of dollars to get the hell off Balmung. They are willing to eat that loss. Let that sink in as well.

[Kage]

Another point to make about the coming free transfers.

 

Guys, they are giving out game time to get off the server. SE is throwing away those of dollars to get the hell off Balmung. They are willing to eat that loss. Let that sink in as well.

Yep. Free EXP, GIL, GAME TIME.

 

They have said they will try to accommodate housing but not how yet. We know they can't just copy them over and done but we can try to see alternatives etc.

 

I don't feel comfortable making the thread about it myself on the official forums but i'd encourage and help drive the thread.

[ShoggMommy]

I realized I didn't actually post concerning my concerns of "everyone should be on xyz server". I come from Besaid, like a lot of the others. I played 1.0; and I will likely always main on whatever remains of Besaid because it is home.

 

However.

 

I would never; ever support a mega-server. I have seen the results of mega-servers; rpers get ran out. Rpers are griefed into non existence or into their personal housing etc etc etc. RPers lose everything they've built.

 

I have seen normal rp severs that are TAGGED get destroyed by griefers; by people who HATE rpers. It happened in WoW with Thorium Brotherhood, it happened in SWTOR with the west-coast RP server, it happened in GW2, it happened in WS* and it happened in RIFT. I would never support having a server labeled why?

 

Because right now the XIV community as a whole is FRUSTRATED and pissed off with the RP community for one reason or another. We know the vitriol for RPers we've seen it in /r/ etc. And the very moment that SE puts up an RP tagged realm you KNOW these people will roll on it to completely -destroy- the rp community. They will make it their goal to destroy the very -function- of the server; as an RP server.

[Mercer]

Strap in for some data folks. It's time for...

 

[align=center]The Importance of Diversifying RP Servers![/align]

 

 

Balmung is over populated by 3 times the amount of a normal server. We're fucked.

 

 

Let's start with the basics. Balmung is the king of RP servers. It is also the co-king of PvE content. This combination of interests has lead to a population...

 

[align=center] :bomb:EXPLOSION!:bomb:[/align]

 

Balmung was not the only victim to this population explosion, so were the realms of Bahamut, Chocobo, Mandragora, Shinryu and Gilgamesh. These servers will be important as they serve of a standard of the minimum requirement needed to be over populated by Square Enix standards.

 

For this exercise I will be referencing Lucky Bancho's Unofficial Census. The numbers here are not exact, and in most criticisms is on the low side of active players. Never the less it is the most accurate representation we have on server populations. This census takes into account HP changes, achievement changes and mount changes between each patch cycle, giving a more clear idea of what characters are actually active over a 5 month span.

 

Lucky Bancho's Unofficial Census

 

From our dear friend Bancho's estimates Balmung's active population is 26,432. This is the fourth column on the list and is the active number of characters on a server. This is a very large number but can be attributed to the alt friendly nature of RP as well as people that never level and are more interested in the RP experience.

 

The next column is the amount of characters that have been created since November. 6,464 new characters have been made! This is a huge number!  In a 5 months span between November and March we have gained about 1/5th of our total active character population! Whoa!

 

The fifth column is the number of characters created since 2.55, or the last patch before Heavensward. Holy crap! There have been 19,968 new characters made since Heavensward! That means that 4/5ths of the current population is made up of characters made after 3.0!

 

Now, let's be fair here. As Balmung is the RP server there are a ton of alts. And you would be right you handsome people reading this post. That's why the important columns are what come next.

 

[align=center]ACTIVE PLAYER BASE[/align]

 

The amount of people that have completed ARR or 2.0 is 23,253 characters. That's a fairly large number of people! But I must also remind you, that only active characters are taken into account from this point forward. That means 23,253 characters have been played above level 50 between November 2016 to March 2017. 

 

And with each step on the columns we go, the number shrinks and shrinks. But the key here is that there is still an active population far above the rest of the servers. At the most current patch progress, 3.4, Balmung has an active character population of 12,662! Gilgamesh is the next highest with 9,953! That's a difference of nearly 3,000 people!

 

That number becomes more extreme when you look at the actual active player base through all of the progress. Balmung's active character population is 26,432 while Gilgamesh's is only 18,097. That is a difference of 8,335 characters!

 

Let me repeat that.

 

8,335 more active characters than Gilgamesh!

 

To put that into perspective the lowest populated server on the lock down list is Mandragora with 10,383 active players. Balmung currently has double the minimum amount of characters to be server locked. And the difference between Gilgamesh and Balmung could fit an entire fresh server of people!

 

This is a huge problem for Balmung and RP as a whole. Balmung could be split into two seperate servers of 13,216 players and we would still be population locked. This is an important point so let me bolden that.

 

Half of Balmung's population is 13,216! Over the limit for a locked server!

 

This is a major problem. To be blunt, Square Enix's servers can not handle that kind of load. It's why Balmung sees queues every hour of every day of every week. We have been granted some insight to the current limit of concurrent users per server. 

 

http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/news/detail/dba4c2a0cdfc83e184ee0eaac3ab27ba2fe51b35

 

We know that on the best estimates that Balmung can handle 7,800 concurrent users. Now I will be the first to admit that this data is dated being about 3 years old. However, given the threshold of what Square Enix deems to be an over populated server, it lines right up. So what does this mean? That of the active 26,432 players only 7,800 would be able to access the game.

 

Right now that doesn't seem that remarkable, but we're also looking forward to Stormblood. The concurrent users will rise dramatically which will make those server limits painful.

 

 

[align=center]How does this effect me?[/align]

 

 

I'm glad you asked. Let's do some quick math. If 26,432 try to access Stormblood during launch day, only 7,800 people would be able to log in. That means that 18,632 people wouldn't be able to log in! They would be stuck in a queue!

 

 

Even if we said half of those players would be trying to log on, we'd still be in a queue! Even if a third were to try and log on there would still be a queue!

 

 

Those of you that remember Heavensward would be familiar with the rocky launch weekend. There were server instabilities, crashes and bad queues never mind the awful zoning system that was implemented.

 

 

Well let me tell you, you haven't seen anything yet.

 

 

The population of Balmung has grown by 19,968 characters since Heavensward came out. Even if that would mean that every new account made 8 characters and played them over the last 5 months that would mean there are 2,496 new accounts on the server. That is about 1/3 of a normal server load folks.

 

 

[align=center]:tonberry: At it's current rate Balmung is in serious trouble. :tonberry:[/align]

 

 

You might be asking how can I help? Well, the truth of the matter the only way to alleviate server load is to get the hell off of Balmung. Square Enix has shown their hand in this fact with the transfer incentives that will soon be available.

 

 

Square is offering free transfers off Balmung. Not only will they be free, but they will apply server wide XP bonuses all the way to 60, Gil and Game Time for new characters. They are also offering full price reimbursement for housing that may be lost in the move.

 

 

The key point here is that Square is giving away game time. They are literally throwing away profits just for the opportunity for you to get the hell off Balmung. It shows that Square understands they are in a desperate situation and are willing to let their profits go to give a more stable experience over all.

 

 

We still don't know what the server transfer will be, but that does bring us to another important note about the current state of the realms.

 

 

[align=center]Where should I transfer?[/align]

 

 

That's hard to say. The reality is that for Balmung to be stable at least 1/2 of it's population needs to leave. That's 13,216 characters. If they all went to the same server, we'd be in the same situation we are in now.

 

 

Even the lowest populated server in the world, Mateus, has an active population of 4,423 characters. Together that would be 17,639 characters, nearly twice the active server load limit and second only to Gilgamesh in active characters.

 

 

And as Mateus would suddenly become another big server, we would run into the same issues that caused Balmung to be in the state it's in. We would be trading in one time bomb for another.

 

 

Even if we looked at only RPers and even if we looked at the amount of people that are members of the RP-C we're looking at over 10,000 people. That doesn't include guests and that doesn't include RPers that use Tumblr over the RP-C.

 

 

If half of the current RP-C members switched to Mateus that would still put them over that server population limit. That is how extensive the RP community currently is. 

 

 

[align=center]Enough Doom and Gloom[/align]

 

 

How do we move forward? Diversifying. There is already a small, but strong RP presence on other servers. Mateus, Jenova, Faerie, Cactaur, Sargatanas and more. What needs to happen is for people to broaden their horizons and join these other servers. There needs to be an active effort to strengthen new communities. It will not be an easy effort, and in reality I don't believe there will be enough effort for Balmung to survive.

 

 

You see, this is not the first time this has happened. Back in Final Fantasy XI, Odin and Bahamut servers were going through the same issues. Everyone joined those servers to be with their friends while the other servers suffered from low population. Eventually Square locked up character creation. Then character transfers. Then they offered free transfers away from Odin and Bahamut. Eventually they threatened to split the servers without any input from it's players. Why would players be allowed to choose where they end up? They would only pick one server over the other to be with their friends.

 

 

Eventually Odin and Bahamut's populations normalized, but they weren't opened for a long period of time, pushing a year. in the mean time Square merged smaller servers to bring them up to Odin and Bahamut's status until a more normalized population spread was achieved.

 

 

Unfortunately, Balmung is much more bloated than Odin and Bahamut ever were. The grim reality is that if something isn't done, it's very possible that Balmung will be broken, shattered into smaller servers without a choice offered to it's players on where they end up.

 

 

I implore you to look into the other servers, see if they are the right fit for you. If the option to transfer comes up, please consider what lies on the other side. RP has grown to such a state that it's being crushed by it's own weight.

 

 

Information on free server transfers won't be available for sometime. In the mean time, I ask you to look into RP server alternatives, educate yourself on what's out there and maybe roll an alt to meet the rest of the communities. It might just be your new home.

[Tyndles]

I appreciate the need for a new RP server area, but let's not go to the other extreme. The fact is that Balmung will calm down and other than queues, things will be fine after a few weeks, like they were in Heavensward.

[Skae]

 

I take offense to this. To say that the player exclusion, stalkers and cliques are mythical is wholly uncalled for. There are many people that have experienced such behavior and to outright dismiss them is unacceptable. It could be in the minority of the experiences, but there are experiences that happen on a daily occurrence.

 

 

Of course all those things exist on Balmung - how widespread they are is another question.

They are hardly unique to Balmung though. To at least some extent they can be found in nearly any community of sufficient size - and quite a few smaller communities as well.

[Skae]

I appreciate the need for a new RP server area, but let's not go to the other extreme. The fact is that Balmung will calm down and other than queues, things will be fine after a few weeks, like they were in Heavensward.

 

Will they? While the load will most likely drop somewhat a few weeks after SB is released, keep in mind that right now we are likely in an extremely calm period - so even after the initial expansion rush has calmed down, player activity will still remain higher than it currently is for many months to come.

 

The risk of a server split has been mentioned. Another possibility is that the currently locked down servers will remain locked down until their population has decreased to more managable levels. That could take years.

 

It is of course possible that SE will open up the servers again 1-2 months after the expansion launch, but I wouldn't count on it.

[ExAtomos]

Eh, if threat of server split comes around, why not just pile into a few clown cars FCs that we definitely want to stay with to ensure we go to the same place? I'd put an alt to babysit my FC house and just pretend to be one of those hitchhiker seeds on someone's pants (I'm from Florida, dunno if hitchhikers are a thing in other areas) til after the move. If alt with the FC house (or token, whatever) ended up on the same server, bonus!

 

My opinion on housing is that yeah, it's really super nice and a big part of the enjoyment I get from my gameplay... but it's the people I meet and rp with that are far more important. (This is an argument I keep seeing crop up on these threads about server alternatives and options.)

 

eta: Yes, consolidation.

[Sig]

 

How do we move forward? Diversifying. There is already a small, but strong RP presence on other servers. Mateus, Jenova, Faerie, Cactaur, Sargatanas and more. What needs to happen is for people to broaden their horizons and join these other servers. There needs to be an active effort to strengthen new communities. It will not be an easy effort, and in reality I don't believe there will be enough effort for Balmung to survive.

 

 

(1)  Merc, thank you for the tech explanation.  That was very informative about the server load.  However, the Balmung population could be decreased by alternative means [mentioned some of these in a prior post] (ideally designating an official RP server).  Banning transfers will not be effective to alleviate the pending server strain that will happen around SB when potentially thousands of players already on Balmung return. Worse yet is that this ineffective remedy could be extremely detrimental to the long-term health of the RP community if the transfer restrictions are not lifted after 2-3 months.

 

(2) Oswin, I appreciate all the effort you're putting into bolstering Maetus as the alternative RP server, but the answer again is not to fragment the RP community across multiple servers.  This does not create diversity or increase roleplay: it does the opposite - it causes homogenization of roleplay, decreases the type and frequency of RP available, and increases community stagnation.

 

Server selection is an artificial, technical barrier that should not divide roleplayers.  Honestly, if SE decides to split Balmung, that might very well be a great thing for the community if RPers could agree on a consensus alternative server.  It doesn't matter where RP'ers play: what matters is that they stick together and consolidate RP in one place (currently Balmung).

 

(3) Again, the long term solutions here are: (1) convince SE to lift the transfer restriction [and implement alternative population control measures if necessary]; or (2) convince SE to designate an official RP server.  No one stands anything to gain by splitting the party, man.

[Vexander]

(3) Again, the long term solutions here are: (1) convince SE to lift the transfer restriction [and implement alternative population control measures if necessary]; or (2) convince SE to designate an official RP server.  No one stands anything to gain by splitting the party, man.

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

[Sig]

(3) Again, the long term solutions here are: (1) convince SE to lift the transfer restriction [and implement alternative population control measures if necessary]; or (2) convince SE to designate an official RP server.  No one stands anything to gain by splitting the party, man.

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].

 

But self-interest colors your proposal; it is not reasonable (or even remotely probable) to expect /thousands/ of RPers who have invested countless of hours on ongoing plots, millions in gil on housing, and have deep-rooted connections to leave Balmung and join a new "unofficial RP server."  This is why you're not seeing a mass exodus of players to Maetus - most will likely limit their activities to "rolling alts" at most to support the community there.

 

At most, we could be looking a scenario where if SE does not lift the server restriction over 6-12 months, the size/diversity/health of the RP community on both servers declines, and RPers are forced to pick and choose between increasingly stagnate communities.  The RP population - in all of its diversity and size - would basically get chopped in half, thereby chopping in half the frequency of RP, types of RP, diversity of RP, etc. This would be unfortunate on a number of levels for the reasons stated in the OP.

[Flynn Bladebreaker]

It doesn't matter where RP'ers play: what matters is that they stick together and consolidate RP in one place (currently Balmung).

Oh my god man. 

 

WE CANNOT STAY ON BALMUNG BECAUSE IT'S FULL.

 

That is not going to change. If restrictions are lifted, it'll just get full again and then we're back to having this debate.

 

And yes, an official designation would be nice. But we don't have one. So we have to make do for now by spreading and growing. That will not hurt the community. At all.

[Papajimboh]

I can't help but think the overall feel of this thread is a bit greedy. How ridiculous would this sound if you applied the same logic to a number of any other similar situations? 

 

A large city insisting on only keeping one high-school that way they have the best sports teams, and just ignoring all the other issues it causes along with that. 

 

Or a continent insisting on everyone forming one large country instead of splitting up. 

 

The bottom line is people absolutely will choose servers other than Balmung for their own reasons. Some people simply like the "small town" feel smaller pop servers offer. Or they may have another reason entirely for choosing their server. Across many MMOs, lots of people choose a server based on a specific FC/guild/group they find, prioritizing that over the server itself. 

 

You won't be able to corral everyone in spite of how badly you'd like to, so it seems much more prudent to help the smaller communities grow instead of trying to make them feel like they are killing the community by not assimilating into the Borg.

[Anehki]

(3) Again, the long term solutions here are: (1) convince SE to lift the transfer restriction [and implement alternative population control measures if necessary]; or (2) convince SE to designate an official RP server.  No one stands anything to gain by splitting the party, man.

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

 

I have to agree with Vexander, we have a golden opportunity here with the free transfers, and fresh servers, we could easily convince RPers to move to the new EU servers coming out in 4.X: http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/topics/detail/7031c8b817c28ac6903490d80964321690505ee8

 

with perks like keeping your FC, levelling bonuses and more, it's really a once in a while opportunity, and I'm quite certain like EU players have put up with an NA datacentre for a long time, there will be some NA players who wouldn't mind doing the same the other way around. Imagine, tons of free housing for RP, lots of empty canvas to paint our ideal Eorzea We can make this a large community! I strongly suggest if anyone is interested to vote on the poll here: http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=19399 to help our cause for a server on the EU data centre. Like on other games, RP can exist on multiple servers, it can also consolidate, both can be successful.

 

I would love to see our new home open to an international community just like it is on Balmung currently, and to make new friends with all of you. <3 But just as I ask you to come join us, I perfectly understand those who love their home, and their more comfortabel ping measurements, just like we over in the EU are trying to achieve with this EU datacentre.

 

here is looking forward to Jolly co-operation in the Roleplay community! ^^

[Sig]

It doesn't matter where RP'ers play: what matters is that they stick together and consolidate RP in one place (currently Balmung).

Oh my god man. 

 

WE CANNOT STAY ON BALMUNG BECAUSE IT'S FULL.

 

That is not going to change. If restrictions are lifted, it'll just get full again and then we're back to having this debate.

 

We can certainly all stay on Balmung and encourage SE to alleviate any server population issue by either reversing the transfer ban (and implementing alternative population control measures if needed) or designating an official RP server.  In fact, I'd go so far as to say this is the most probable scenario at the present time [see topic 3 in the OP].

 

I think it's unfortunate that some users seem to think that SE are demi-gods incapable of modifying their product to meet consumer demands.  I suspect we could get an official RP server designated within 2 months if there was an organized and dedicated effort. But, instead, most appear content to "wait and see" or operate under the false assumption that multiple unofficial RP server designations will not increase stagnation while decreasing the frequency and diversity of RP. This is unfortunate.

[Vexander]

(3) Again, the long term solutions here are: (1) convince SE to lift the transfer restriction [and implement alternative population control measures if necessary]; or (2) convince SE to designate an official RP server.  No one stands anything to gain by splitting the party, man.

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.

[Flynn Bladebreaker]

It doesn't matter where RP'ers play: what matters is that they stick together and consolidate RP in one place (currently Balmung).

Oh my god man. 

 

WE CANNOT STAY ON BALMUNG BECAUSE IT'S FULL.

 

That is not going to change. If restrictions are lifted, it'll just get full again and then we're back to having this debate.

 

We can certainly all stay on Balmung and encourage SE to alleviate any server population issue by either reversing the transfer ban (and implementing alternative population control measures if needed) or designating an official RP server.  In fact, I'd go so far as to say this is the most probably scenario at the present time [see topic 3 in the OP].

 

I think it's unfortunate that some users seem to think that SE are demi-gods incapable of modifying their product to consumer demands.  I suspect we could get an official RP server designated within 2 months if there was an organized and dedicated effort.

Then go for it already. An official designation somewhere would be fantastic. But right now, we need to focus on getting people where they want to be.

 

I would join people on the OF but my account has a lifetime ban for a simple meme.

[Anehki]

Then go for it already. An official designation somewhere would be fantastic. But right now, we need to focus on getting people where they want to be.

 

I would join people on the OF but my account has a lifetime ban for a simple meme.

 

I just want to chip in and say, the whole reason we have Balmung is because they refused us RP server tags back at Launch, they have told us they were never gonna do it in a live letter back then if I recall, as we fought very hard back then for it on the beta forums.

 

But I'm with Flynn on this also, the servers only been getting fuller and fuller, and not even nescessarily due to RPers either, the situation won't change.

[Papajimboh]

(3) Again, the long term solutions here are: (1) convince SE to lift the transfer restriction [and implement alternative population control measures if necessary]; or (2) convince SE to designate an official RP server.  No one stands anything to gain by splitting the party, man.

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

 

I have to agree with Vexander, we have a golden opportunity here with the free transfers, and fresh servers, we could easily convince RPers to move to the new EU servers coming out in 4.X: http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/topics/detail/7031c8b817c28ac6903490d80964321690505ee8

 

with perks like keeping your FC, levelling bonuses and more, it's really a once in a while opportunity, and I'm quite certain like EU players have put up with an NA datacentre for a long time, there will be some NA players who wouldn't mind doing the same the other way around. Imagine, tons of free housing for RP, lots of empty canvas to paint our ideal Eorzea We can make this a large community! I strongly suggest if anyone is interested to vote on the poll here: http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=19399 to help our cause for a server on the EU data centre. Like on other games, RP can exist on multiple servers, it can also consolidate, both can be successful.

 

I would love to see our new home open to an international community just like it is on Balmung currently, and to make new friends with all of you. <3 But just as I ask you to come join us, I perfectly understand those who love their home, and their more comfortabel ping measurements, just like we over in the EU are trying to achieve with this EU datacentre.

 

here is looking forward to Jolly co-operation in the Roleplay community! ^^

 

This is an enticing idea as well. My wife and I have been talking about it as an option since the announcement. Our two big concerns, and potentially shared concerns with other players, are these:

 

1. Obviously, the ping. It may not be a big deal, but what kind of ping would be expected from the central US to EU data centers? As you mentioned, EU players have been playing here for some time, so I'm curious what it was like for those players so I'd know what to expect. 

 

2. The time zone difference. We typically play most often within the 7pm-11pm timeline during the week, then just whenever on weekends. But that would put EU in the wee hours of the morning, meaning it would potentially split the community a bit due to time differences. That's something that may have been an issue already in reverse on NA servers, but something I'm curious about. 

 

Also as a side question, can you choose any server on any locations data center on any account? There's no need to create a new account in order to play on EU or JP like in some other games, is there?

[Vexander]

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.

[Anehki]

 

This is an enticing idea as well. My wife and I have been talking about it as an option since the announcement. Our two big concerns, and potentially shared concerns with other players, are these:

 

1. Obviously, the ping. It may not be a big deal, but what kind of ping would be expected from the central US to EU data centers? As you mentioned, EU players have been playing here for some time, so I'm curious what it was like for those players so I'd know what to expect. 

 

2. The time zone difference. We typically play most often within the 7pm-11pm timeline during the week, then just whenever on weekends. But that would put EU in the wee hours of the morning, meaning it would potentially split the community a bit due to time differences. That's something that may have been an issue already in reverse on NA servers, but something I'm curious about. 

 

Also as a side question, can you choose any server on any locations data center on any account? There's no need to create a new account in order to play on EU or JP like in some other games, is there?

 

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.

[Vexander]

 

This is an enticing idea as well. My wife and I have been talking about it as an option since the announcement. Our two big concerns, and potentially shared concerns with other players, are these:

 

1. Obviously, the ping. It may not be a big deal, but what kind of ping would be expected from the central US to EU data centers? As you mentioned, EU players have been playing here for some time, so I'm curious what it was like for those players so I'd know what to expect. 

 

2. The time zone difference. We typically play most often within the 7pm-11pm timeline during the week, then just whenever on weekends. But that would put EU in the wee hours of the morning, meaning it would potentially split the community a bit due to time differences. That's something that may have been an issue already in reverse on NA servers, but something I'm curious about. 

 

Also as a side question, can you choose any server on any locations data center on any account? There's no need to create a new account in order to play on EU or JP like in some other games, is there?

 

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.

[Anehki]

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.

 

Oh no, it doesn't work like that Vexander, you still can partake in it in the NA, just say if you gave your code to an EU account (that doesnt mean a character on an EU server) more so someone who has bought the game in the EU, then it wouldn't work. So I couldn't use your code as I'm an EU account, but you an NA account so you can.