An Essay on the Balmung "Problem"

[Flynn Bladebreaker]

A few observations before work (I wish I could respond to things in detail but just don't have the time):

 

(1) The OP should have paid $18 and joined Balmung months ago.

No.

 

(2) I cringe every time I read vague allegations about how RP is impossible to find on Balmung or how someone needs connections to find RP on Balmung.  That isn't the case.  It is extremely easy to find RP on Balmung because it is everywhere, and RPers are generally extremely supportive of new comers.  If you can't find RP on Balmung, you're actually less likely to find it elsewhere - especially the style/content you enjoy - and should consider trying a little harder. 

Connections exist because not everyone shares the same RP taste.

 

(3) RP should be consolidated on one server.  It doesn't matter where that server is.

No. And PING. DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE WORLD.

 

The rest, we don't need to repeat ourselves over this again.

[Meishali]

(3) RP should be consolidated on one server.  It doesn't matter where that server is.  We're a small community and need to stick together to make sure RP remains frequent and diverse. 

 

(4) The hyperbole about Maetus being the new promised land of RP is colored with so much self-interest that it makes me sad.  Maetus likely began as a tiny enclave of RPers who deliberately chose to break off from Balmung for purely person reasons.  Perhaps they thought there were too many futas in the Quicksand.  Maybe they wanted housing.  Who knows.  But they made a decision not to participate in the greater RP community where 80%+ of RPers roleplay. 

 

When SE locked server transfers, 5-10 Maetus RPers did a terrific job of orchestrated a concerted effort to promote their server -- not just as a place where people can RP if they can't access the greater community on Balmung, but as the next "unofficial" RP server.  Some of those users cite erroneous statistics purporting that Balmung is completely unsustainable, or failed to see that there are many ways to preserve a central RP hub and deal with a population problem.  They did this out of a desire to grow their small RP community.  What they do not understand or value is that RPers /need/ to be consolidated in one central community to ensure the long-term viability of the RP community as a whole. [...]

 

Sig, RP can not be consolidated on one server. People are already RPing in different places. OP did not transfer back then, and it was their choice not to, and I do not think they're complaining about not RPing on Balmung.

 

You can also not say Balmung is 'greater'. Nobody knows if it's 'the best'. Greater in the amount of Roefutas lurking about the Quicksand, maybe. I'm not judging! But it's all numbers, and while, of course, it is HUGE in terms of playerbase, it's still locked right now - we're not talking about what should have been, but about what is happening now, and honestly I'm thrilled to know there are other worlds than Balmung thriving.

 

I do not think you can blame people making accessible new RP communities while one of the legacy servers nearly everyone (who isn't in) regrets not being in is on lockdown.

To me, it is like a full LS. If it is full, make another one. You can not tell people to go to the other linkshell, or that they should've joined it earlier. It is unfair, uncouth, and uncalled for. The issue is the lack of space. Not the lack of will to roleplay, nor the people building new communities. The very prospect of roleplayers having several other caches is exciting to me.

[ArmachiA]

Man, this was supposed to simple, guys.

 

Balmung locked and we were all supposed to come together and put people somewhere else - temporary or not.

 

It was supposed to be a simple community effort to put people somewhere while Balmung is not an option and while people set up camp to forge a new server or pushed for an official tag or whatever.

 

It's turned into a bunch of people pushing their agendas and not listening. Telling people they are doing too much, telling people they are doing to little, fighting over whats the best server, fighting over "Balmung taking over" or "Balmung isn't doing anything" or "Balmung should be the only option" or "Mateus is a terrible option" or fighting over... I don't even KNOW what at this point?

 

This was supposed to be an endeavor to help

 

We all need to take a step back and look at what this is becoming.

 

It's such a shame.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Man, this was supposed to simple, guys.

 

Balmung locked and we were all supposed to come together and put people somewhere else - temporary or not.

 

It was supposed to be a simple community effort to put people somewhere while Balmung is not an option and while people set up camp to forge a new server or pushed for an official tag or whatever.

 

It's turned into a bunch of people pushing their agendas and not listening. Telling people they are doing too much, telling people they are doing to little, fighting over whats the best server, fighting over "Balmung taking over" or "Balmung isn't doing anything" or "Balmung should be the only option" or "Mateus is a terrible option" or fighting over... I don't even KNOW what at this point?

 

This was supposed to be an endeavor to help

 

We all need to take a step back and look at what this is becoming.

 

It's such a shame.

 

It looks exactly the same as the "Balmung vs Gilgamesh" threads. Like, -exactly- the same except the staff aren't purging/graveyarding these threads.

 

 

A few observations before work (I wish I could respond to things in detail but just don't have the time)

 

None of those observations are new. You've literally repeated the exact same posts multiple times. I ran them through a diff checker. I've already gone over a number of your points in a number of threads where you've pasted in the same post which tends to be off-topic for that conversation/discussion. If you don't have something of actual value to add to the thread, please don't paste the same post in it over and over. It doesn't make your point louder.

 

Servers are not arbitrary groupings. Much like the [poor] apartment metaphor, they have actual physical limits. I cannot stress this enough as a person who works in that industry. I cringe every time you go "SE should just open it again." That would be a TERRIBLE idea. Balmung's already unstable with its current population and it's likely going to crash or get that horribly implemented zone-phasing again in a bunch of areas as returning players resub. People -really- cannot keep joining it.

[Valde]

Man, this was supposed to simple, guys.

 

Balmung locked and we were all supposed to come together and put people somewhere else - temporary or not.

 

It was supposed to be a simple community effort to put people somewhere while Balmung is not an option and while people set up camp to forge a new server or pushed for an official tag or whatever.

 

It's turned into a bunch of people pushing their agendas and not listening. Telling people they are doing too much, telling people they are doing to little, fighting over whats the best server, fighting over "Balmung taking over" or "Balmung isn't doing anything" or "Balmung should be the only option" or "Mateus is a terrible option" or fighting over... I don't even KNOW what at this point?

 

This was supposed to be an endeavor to help

 

We all need to take a step back and look at what this is becoming.

 

It's such a shame.

 

 

What this has become is some outspoken individuals who have weak communication skills voicing fears and desires in a way that's causing conflict. That's it.

 

Despite this others are still going to continue to help. Despite this the server is going to remain locked. Good ol' Matty boy is going to be the best bet for fresh RPers for some time to come, and given the state of Balmung it's unlikely to see any stiff competition anytime soon. A good 3-6 months of no one being able to move onto the largest server and an expansion that's likely to bring old and new players back who might be willing to jump fresh and we're going to see some heavy population growth regardless.

 

RP is RP no matter where it's at. Balmung has its venomous loudmouths, Mateus will too and it'll thrive despite it. The best thing anyone can do to someone who's being a negative piece of flotsam is to ignore them.

[Leggerless]

Ye gods.... we're already pointing people in your direction.  Some are even running events for you. (*waves to Leggerless*  He's running a grindstone over there.) Advice on how to make things stick.  Advertising for you.  

 

Huh?

 

I've been working on theorycrafting related items for FFXIV, not running events.

 

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

EDIT: The only thing I've done really for Mateus is basically run some polls, paste some data, and... that's about it? It ain't much, but something.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Ye gods.... we're already pointing people in your direction.  Some are even running events for you. (*waves to Leggerless*  He's running a grindstone over there.) Advice on how to make things stick.  Advertising for you.  

 

Huh?

 

I've been working on theorycrafting related items for FFXIV, not running events.

 

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

EDIT: The only thing I've done really for Mateus is basically run some polls, paste some data, and... that's about it? It ain't much, but something.

 

I think he meant Nodem running the Blood Shore, a Grindstone Event. (details here)

[Kellach Woods]

This was supposed to be an endeavor to help

 

We all need to take a step back and look at what this is becoming.

 

It's such a shame.

 

And you expected it to become something different why?

 

Have you talked to the people here before?

[Leggerless]

Ye gods.... we're already pointing people in your direction.  Some are even running events for you. (*waves to Leggerless*  He's running a grindstone over there.) Advice on how to make things stick.  Advertising for you.  

 

Huh?

 

I've been working on theorycrafting related items for FFXIV, not running events.

 

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

EDIT: The only thing I've done really for Mateus is basically run some polls, paste some data, and... that's about it? It ain't much, but something.

 

I think he meant Nodem running the Blood Shore, a Grindstone Event. (details here)

 

Ohhh. Gotcha.

 

Anyways, I went through the trouble of pulling out one of my posts simulating the Grindstone a year or so back. If they're interested at all.

 

...Annnd I'm suddenly realizing I came across a blueprint for an event type. Lawl. Funny how science works. But yea, it basically gives a near-complete rundown of a GS from an engineering/simulation standpoint.

 

EDIT 2: Also, can someone hand me the Discord invite to these Mateus people?

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Ye gods.... we're already pointing people in your direction.  Some are even running events for you. (*waves to Leggerless*  He's running a grindstone over there.) Advice on how to make things stick.  Advertising for you.  

 

Huh?

 

I've been working on theorycrafting related items for FFXIV, not running events.

 

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

EDIT: The only thing I've done really for Mateus is basically run some polls, paste some data, and... that's about it? It ain't much, but something.

 

I think he meant Nodem running the Blood Shore, a Grindstone Event. (details here)

 

Ohhh. Gotcha.

 

Anyways, I went through the trouble of pulling out one of my posts simulating the Grindstone a year or so back. If they're interested at all.

 

...Annnd I'm suddenly realizing I came across a blueprint for an event type. Lawl. Funny how science works. But yea, it basically gives a near-complete rundown of a GS from an engineering/simulation standpoint.

 

EDIT 2: Also, can someone hand me the Discord invite to these Mateus people?

 

Mateus RP Hub Discord

 

For the RPM, you'll need to get invited in. That can be done in-game or in the hub discord.

[Ryslo Suramlo]

Man, this was supposed to simple, guys.

 

Balmung locked and we were all supposed to come together and put people somewhere else - temporary or not.

 

It was supposed to be a simple community effort to put people somewhere while Balmung is not an option and while people set up camp to forge a new server or pushed for an official tag or whatever.

 

It's turned into a bunch of people pushing their agendas and not listening. Telling people they are doing too much, telling people they are doing to little, fighting over whats the best server, fighting over "Balmung taking over" or "Balmung isn't doing anything" or "Balmung should be the only option" or "Mateus is a terrible option" or fighting over... I don't even KNOW what at this point?

 

This was supposed to be an endeavor to help

 

We all need to take a step back and look at what this is becoming.

 

It's such a shame.

 

To be fair to everyone, the very first post in this thread wasn't the nicest way of getting an Idea Across. Though I am a proponent of voice conversations in these instances (less drama that way) we have to make due with written text. Now, don't get me wrong I see your point but Balmung is Closed. Many of us in this thread (not all of us but many) agree that we aren't going to depart Balmung but we certainly can offer some advice, and be supportive. 

 

I think most of us just believe its unrealistic to /expect/ people to go to another server and dedicate so much time building that server up while our own love (Balmung) is waiting there. I personally have Obligations to a large Member Base and came to this thread to offer advice, its all I can do. I think that's all anyone here can do from Balmung (with some exceptions). The truth is, a Community is built by a Community. Often takes an individual doing the leg work and finding the strength to pull people together. I've actually never even seen (in any previous MMO) another Server needing to go to another Server to build it up. That blows my mind. 

 

So I agree we can be extremely supportive and /do what we can/ but I really think its more dependent on people on a particular server pulling their weight, making waves happen that'll be the best and biggest impact. Mateus sounds like a great alternative for people to go and they should strongly consider consolidating themselves onto that server especially with Balmung being closed. One poster said it best, Balmung is Closed... So we can support Mateus by sending people there.. in the interim. When Balmung opens up again, if it does, then in that time we should have 2 Strong RP communities...

 

So.. Support Mateus (I agree with the Person I Quoted Sentiment) but do it within reason. We are all here to have fun and not compromise that for ourselves.. but there is no reason we can't Advise people to head over to Mateus if they ask or offer friendly advise about organization, site development, PR approaches and what not.

[ArmachiA]

^ for clarification when I say "support" I mean what you said above. I don't get the call out that Balmung isn't" doing enough", and it's really a superfluous argument because Mateus is hitting the ground running at this point.

 

This was supposed to be an endeavor to help

 

We all need to take a step back and look at what this is becoming.

 

It's such a shame.

 

And you expected it to become something different why?

 

Have you talked to the people here before?

 

I absolutely didn't think it was going to get this dramatic, that's for sure. We all agree on the basic principle (Balmung is locked, people want to be on an RP server, we need to tell people to go somewhere) I'm not sure why we're arguing details and personal anecdotes about... whatever slight people are perceiving over this. I do not get how "We need to help out" turned into "BUT BALMUNG RAAWWRRR"

[Y'raya]

Somebody lock this. It's way off track and has fallen deep into the realm of people bashing each other. Far from what I intended, and it's not furthering anything at all beyond adding another thread to yell at each other in, and there's plenty of that already. Writing my original post was clearly a mistake. In the meantime, I'll be playing on Mateus on a few characters until I can transfer, as that seems to be where the bulk of efforts are being made, and look forward to playing with you all!

[GhostlyMaiden]

Per request, this thread is now locked.

 

There are other threads regarding this similar topic and just a reminder that to prevent locking threads, discussions should remain on track and avoid falling on the negative side of things.