Server guidance for those new to the community

[Miss Marigold]

I'm rather new here—although I've been lurking for quite awhile—so I feel a bit awkward posting this. Hopefully no one will bite my head off for it!

 

I simply want to offer a suggestion. Currently, we have text atop the website that says the following:

 

Game launch on August 27th! RPC's server choices: Balmung and Gilgamesh. We encourage you to do your own research and choose the server best for you (or both!). Please post server inquiries within existing threads rather than new ones. Thanks and happy adventures!

 

While I understand the desire to maintain a neutral point of view, I think this notice says so little as to be almost useless. It doesn't state which server is for legacy players, it doesn't identify which server is the primary server, it doesn't point people at an existing thread where they can read the information for themselves, and it doesn't offer an appropriate thread for asking questions—if one even exists.

 

I agree that people should make the decision for themselves and should not be pushed in one way or another by an official notice. However, that doesn't mean the notice must be uninformative and actively encourage people to trudge through the chaotic mess that is all of the previous discussions on this topic. In fact, that's the last thing I'd want new people to have as their introduction to this community!

 

As such, I suggest changing the message to something like the following:

 

A Realm Reborn launches August 27th! Balmung is the primary RP server for both new and legacy characters. Gilgamesh is the secondary server for new characters exclusively. Please post any server-related questions in our thread dedicated to the topic. Thanks, and happy adventures!

 

This statement is neutral, casts Gilgamesh in a positive light (as it's "exclusive", after all), makes it clear which server is the primary server, makes it clear that new characters can be created on Balmung (which many seem to think is impossible), and gives people a place to ask questions without having to find some existing, half-related thread to tack them onto. I think it's a clear improvement over the notice that's currently present in every way.

 

I know Balmung versus Gilgamesh topics have been done to death and it is not my intention in the slightest to bring up the debate again. I simply think that directing new people into a series of ugly arguments over servers so they can "do [their] own research" is a terrible thing to do to new members of the community.

 

That's everything! Again, please don't hurt me too badly for this! I'm sticking my neck out because I think it's important, not because I wish to cause trouble.

[doctorgalactic]

You have great intentions here, and I commend you for that, but tread lightly.  This is a bit of a toxic topic at the moment.

[Miss Marigold]

You have great intentions here, and I commend you for that, but tread lightly.  This is a bit of a toxic topic at the moment.

 

I'm aware, yes. That's the reason I posted this though: Asking new members to dive head-first into old discussions on a toxic topic seems very questionable to me. A short, descriptive notice and a single thread dedicated to new member questions seems like the best way to insulate them from the ugliness.

 

Perhaps all that ugliness was necessary, but it's hopefully over now. There's no reason we can't summarize the current state of things for new members and prevent them from having to wade through the muck.

[Gerik]

 

A Realm Reborn launches August 27th! Balmung is the primary RP server for both new and legacy characters. Gilgamesh is the secondary server for new characters exclusively. Please post any server-related questions in our thread dedicated to the topic. Thanks, and happy adventures!

 

I'd agree with this.  We did vote on the secondary RP server, so it would only be truthful. In addition, it also makes it very clear.

[AkhutaiAngura]

OP, something you might look at doing, would be a little bit better of a layout for the thread to answer questions and such.

 

For example.. Keep the title what you have, or make something similar, or whatever. But then have your first post detail all the ins and outs of Gilgamesh, as Aysun did for Balmung. She went through and detailed, very accurately and neutrally, the ins and outs of Balmung. Now, I don't know what could be said about Gil to equate to a post of that style, but.. Still. It's an idea. Then, once you get your first post made - Offer a link to Aysun's thread. Say, if you have a question about Gilgamesh, ask it in your thread. If it's about Balmung, ask it in Aysun's thread. That way, it keeps the Gilgamesh and Balmung folks seperate, and there's less chance of server-wars breaking out in the thread.

[Aysun]

Kudos. I agree with this. I have talked about the lack of clarity in the server choices and how it's negatively affecting our new RPers thus far at great lengths and haven't gotten much headway. I hope that someone other than me bringing it up will help.

[ArmachiA]

I stand behind this *nod*

[Disglair]

:thumbsup:

 

I like this.

[Folken]

I'm also verbally standing behind this.

[Havoc Snow]

A Realm Reborn launches August 27th! Balmung is the primary RP server for both new and legacy characters. Gilgamesh is the secondary server for new characters exclusively. Please post any server-related questions in our thread dedicated to the topic. Thanks, and happy adventures!

 

Very well worded, I support this completely.

[Kellen whitewolf]

i agree to it makes more sense

[Sireano]

 

A Realm Reborn launches August 27th! Balmung is the primary RP server for both new and legacy characters. Gilgamesh is the secondary server for new characters exclusively. Please post any server-related questions in our thread dedicated to the topic. Thanks, and happy adventures!

 

 

me gusta mucho esto, asi

[Aysun]

Why'd this get moved to Off Topic?

[Kylin]

Why'd this get moved to Off Topic?

 

Because the topic of discussion is directly related to the site layout itself (the message at the top of the site) and not the game.

[Aysun]

Why'd this get moved to Off Topic?

 

Because the topic of discussion is directly related to the site layout itself (the message at the top of the site) and not the game.

'Kay.

[Miss Marigold]

Why'd this get moved to Off Topic?

 

Because the topic of discussion is directly related to the site layout itself (the message at the top of the site) and not the game.

 

Apologies if I posted in the wrong place! I just thought it fit better in "FFXIV Discussions" with the rest of the server-related threads: This isn't really a "miscellaneous discussion" as the description for this forum reads, although it is certainly related to the site itself as you said. My mistake!

 

In any case, do you have any thoughts on this topic, Kylin? I'm presuming, perhaps incorrectly, that you're one of the people capable of making this change and there seems to be something of a consensus that it's appropriate.

[Kylin]

I have no qualms with changing it, but I don't think you'll find much support for that on the Gilgamesh side. But I'd rather hear what the other mods (and other users) think as well. That being said, even if it was changed, I don't believe the forum announcement feature supports links.

[Merri]

We will not be shifting from our neutral stance on the subject. As it stands, Gilgamesh is not in any way a "secondary" server, and we currently have no plans to label it as such.

[Aysun]

We will not be shifting from our neutral stance on the subject. As it stands, Gilgamesh is not in any way a "secondary" server, and we currently have no plans to label it as such.

You're incorrect. It has been the secondary server since the start.

 

http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=2540&highlight=secondary+server+vote

 

 

In the interest of community cohesion, Balmung will remain the primary server (again, barring mitigating circumstances) and we will continue to recommend it to those who prefer to be where the largest gathering of roleplayers are, but for those who— for whatever reason— do not wish to join a legacy server, we will recommend the secondary non-Legacy server.

[Selsix]

We will not be shifting from our neutral stance on the subject. As it stands, Gilgamesh is not in any way a "secondary" server, and we currently have no plans to label it as such.

You're incorrect. It has been the secondary server since the start.

 

http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=2540&highlight=secondary+server+vote

 

 

In the interest of community cohesion, Balmung will remain the primary server (again, barring mitigating circumstances) and we will continue to recommend it to those who prefer to be where the largest gathering of roleplayers are, but for those who— for whatever reason— do not wish to join a legacy server, we will recommend the secondary non-Legacy server.

 

I hate to break it to you, but that vote is kinda moot with the mass influx of new players going to Gilgamesh. We don't see it as "secondary". We see it as "alternative". 

 

You should really change the wording to be a little less Balmung-flaunting and more neutral by saying:

 

 

A Realm Reborn launches August 27th! Balmung is an RP server for both new and legacy characters. While Gilgamesh is another server for new characters exclusively. Please post any server-related questions in our thread dedicated to the topic. Thanks, and happy adventures!

 

 

There you go, minor change yet preserves the neutrality of the listing. Swap it to that and I support it.

[Gerik]

 

I hate to break it to you, but that vote is kinda moot with the mass influx of new players going to Gilgamesh. We don't see it as "secondary". We see it as "alternative". 

 

You should really change the wording to be a little less Balmung-flaunting and more neutral by saying:

 

 

A Realm Reborn launches August 27th! Balmung is an RP server for both new and legacy characters. While Gilgamesh is another server for new characters exclusively. Please post any server-related questions in our thread dedicated to the topic. Thanks, and happy adventures!

 

 

There you go, minor change yet preserves the neutrality of the listing. Swap it to that and I support it.

 

Just because you don't see it as secondary doesn't mean it's not secondary~

[Selsix]

 

I hate to break it to you, but that vote is kinda moot with the mass influx of new players going to Gilgamesh. We don't see it as "secondary". We see it as "alternative". 

 

You should really change the wording to be a little less Balmung-flaunting and more neutral by saying:

 

 

A Realm Reborn launches August 27th! Balmung is an RP server for both new and legacy characters. While Gilgamesh is another server for new characters exclusively. Please post any server-related questions in our thread dedicated to the topic. Thanks, and happy adventures!

 

 

There you go, minor change yet preserves the neutrality of the listing. Swap it to that and I support it.

 

Just because you don't see it as secondary doesn't mean it's not secondary~

 

And this is exactly why it shouldn't be changed to say "primary" and "secondary". Even something that minor to a new forum viewer is going to make Balmung look better. Who wants to be on a secondary server when there's a primary one?

[Merri]

You're incorrect. It has been the secondary server since the start.

 

http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=2540&highlight=secondary+server+vote

 

 

In the interest of community cohesion, Balmung will remain the primary server (again, barring mitigating circumstances) and we will continue to recommend it to those who prefer to be where the largest gathering of roleplayers are, but for those who— for whatever reason— do not wish to join a legacy server, we will recommend the secondary non-Legacy server.

 

 

I am not incorrect. I know for a fact we came to an agreement not to label any server with priority over the other, and have gone to great lengths to prevent such labels from being thrown around. If I'm not mistaken, this took place well after that poll was made and the issue itself was first brought up.

 

It is not at all fair for us to label any server over the other, as that is not the point of the different servers. Balmung isn't the main server, and we should not advertise it as such. Gilgamesh is simply the non-legacy server, and nothing more. We really don't need to give it the "secondary" label. It's completely unnecessary and only serves to undermine it's validity.

[Aysun]

As much as neutrality is desired, as Kylin stated in the original poll, Balmung is the primary server supported by this website, and Gilgamesh is the secondary. I'm sorry if that doesn't please everyone (I honestly wish it did), but it's not something should change.

[Selsix]

As much as neutrality is desired, as Kylin stated in the original poll, Balmung is the primary server supported by this website, and Gilgamesh is the secondary. I'm sorry if that doesn't please everyone (I honestly wish it did), but it's not something should change.

 

Please point out where on this website ANYWHERE on the front page that it says Balmung is the "primary" server.