One Server - One active community!
By
Blue Rabbit,
Posted on: 2008-12-19 09:55 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
Go away?
Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.
Told you to wait till Friday Phantoms. 
Please see here Guillermo:
http://uk.boards.cityofheroes.com/showfl...e=0#Post1289887
[ QUOTE ]
Told you to wait till Friday Phantoms.
Please see here Guillermo:
http://uk.boards.cityofheroes.com/showfl...e=0#Post1289887
[/ QUOTE ]
Aggh didn't see that topic 
Shame they rather let 2 servers die out, rather then merging them into one and keep it alive and having a chance to become even more active. 
[ QUOTE ]
Go away?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes telling people that want a bigger better community to go away is sertainly the way to keep CoX going in Europe. 
If I lost my character and SG names, I'd leave. If they can't come up with a decent way round the naming and base and group issues, then no thanks to a server merge.
Also, people who have characters on each server. Imagine someone who has all their slots filled out, there's no way for them to get 48 characters (Or if they have brought character transfers, more) on one server, so they'll lose out.
[ QUOTE ]
If I lost my character and SG names, I'd leave. If they can't come up with a decent way round the naming and base and group issues, then no thanks to a server merge.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's always the challenge with Server Merges.
Best way is always to give the characters and guilds (this case supergroups) a free renaming token to their account for the characters affected with conflicting names.
I share your concern Guillermo but this topic has been discussed very regularly on these boards. They tend to make people aggregated. SO while I agree with you it is better to let this topic rest for a while.
For the record, the devs have been stated that there are no plans to merge the servers at this moment.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Go away?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes telling people that want a bigger better community to go away is sertainly the way to keep CoX going in Europe.
[/ QUOTE ]
This has been argued about every week for the last six months. You pretty obviously are not a member of the forum community, or you would know that.
To turn up, having ignored this community, and start going on about how it's such a great idea to merge the servers and it would promote a better community is, frankly very rude.
So, go back to playing the game with your girlfriend. Enjoy it. Have fun. Stop telling people things they have discussed over and over again.
Or, you could actually join 'the community' and then you would know what was happening in the game.
Your choice, but this thread... is exactly what we expect from Friday Posters. (And that isn't a good thing, in case you were wondering.)
Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.
[ QUOTE ]
Also, people who have characters on each server. Imagine someone who has all their slots filled out, there's no way for them to get 48 characters (Or if they have brought character transfers, more) on one server, so they'll lose out.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, in the end it might indeed come with some sacrifices.
But what do you rather want?
2 low populated servers, just so you can create more ALT's.
or:
1 good populated server, but sacrifice on available character slots.
---------------
I really miss the good old days seeing people running around everywhere, in every zone. Easy to form a group on the fly. RP events going on regular basis.
Paragon City was so alive and kicking back then, compaired to the mere shadow of a ghost town it is now. 
[ QUOTE ]
If I lost my character and SG names, I'd leave. If they can't come up with a decent way round the naming and base and group issues, then no thanks to a server merge.
Also, people who have characters on each server. Imagine someone who has all their slots filled out, there's no way for them to get 48 characters (Or if they have brought character transfers, more) on one server, so they'll lose out.
[/ QUOTE ]
This.
A server merger without the ability to preserve everything a player has worked on would be the fastest way to drive away current players and probably cause an unrecoverable level of bad press for EU-CoX.
I'm quite happy on Union as it is, so I think I'll choose option 1. We have RP events going on a regular basis anyway. One has run at the same spot pretty much for 3 years now, every night.
Alos in your signature? Paragon City is a hub. People mostly use it to go from A to Instance B. If Paragon City had more things to do -in- it, you might see more people in it, instead of in Radio Mission Map X.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If I lost my character and SG names, I'd leave. If they can't come up with a decent way round the naming and base and group issues, then no thanks to a server merge.
Also, people who have characters on each server. Imagine someone who has all their slots filled out, there's no way for them to get 48 characters (Or if they have brought character transfers, more) on one server, so they'll lose out.
[/ QUOTE ]
This.
A server merger without the ability to preserve everything a player has worked on would be the fastest way to drive away current players and probably cause an unrecoverable level of bad press for EU-CoX.
[/ QUOTE ]
^This.
A large number of us are VERY attached to our character names, SG names, SG bases, and so forth. A server merge would risk (please note there's no guarantee) some or all of those things.
For example - I've been kicking around this forum community since October 2005 (about a month after I first started playing the game), and I am known/reviled/respected/seen (delete as appropriate to your personal tastes) as Shadowe. I play my main on Union. I happen to know that the name Shadowe is taken on Defiant. It's my global name, my main toon's name, and is a part of several of my character names. I would NOT be happy if I lost it due to a server merge. It wouldn't be an insurmountable problem, but it would change too many things that are well established in my character's background and I would, quite simply, quit the game.
As an RPer I have not observed an significant difficulty finding a team when I want one, and to lose something that has been a labour of love for the last 3+ years would irritate me hugely.
So, unless they can come up with a way to preserve character names, SG names, SG bases and basically everything about all of my characters, I'm not interested in a server merge, because I do not see the problems that other people seem to, regarding the population of the servers.
The wisdom of Shadowe: Ghostraptor: The Shadowe is wise ...; FFM: Shadowe is no longer wise.
; Techbot_Alpha: Also, what Shadowe said. It seems he is still somewhat wise 
; Bull Throttle: Shadowe was unwise in this instance...; Rock_Powerfist: in this instance Shadowe is wise.; Techbot_Alpha: Shadowe is very wise *nods*; Zortel: *Quotable line about Shadowe being wise goes here.*
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Go away?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes telling people that want a bigger better community to go away is sertainly the way to keep CoX going in Europe.
[/ QUOTE ]
This has been argued about every week for the last six months. You pretty obviously are not a member of the forum community, or you would know that.
To turn up, having ignored this community, and start going on about how it's such a great idea to merge the servers and it would promote a better community is, frankly very rude.
So, go back to playing the game with your girlfriend. Enjoy it. Have fun. Stop telling people things they have discussed over and over again.
Or, you could actually join 'the community' and then you would know what was happening in the game.
Your choice, but this thread... is exactly what we expect from Friday Posters. (And that isn't a good thing, in case you were wondering.)
[/ QUOTE ]
How am I rude?
Me and my gf pay our montly sub just like you or anyone else mind you!
I happen to have an account since 2005. My gf since 2007.
You do know that the majority of players don't read forums, yet alone even post in them?
I might have hardly ever posted in here, because I am more active on regular gaming forums and never spend much time on official game forums.
Not to mention that I don't post in forums much at all, as I am busy enough with other things.
Not everyone are hardcore forum maniacs posting hundreds of posts a day mind you.
And that I happen to be posting on a friday today, is more like a convinience for me as it's very quiet today at my job, so I have the time to read around and post.
During evenings I rather spend my time playing games, then browsing and posting on forums.
And that this subject according to you, seems to be discussed each week for the past 6 months, should be a strong signal that appearently plenty of people feel the same way as me and my gf do.
Cheers
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If I lost my character and SG names, I'd leave. If they can't come up with a decent way round the naming and base and group issues, then no thanks to a server merge.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's always the challenge with Server Merges.
Best way is always to give the characters and guilds (this case supergroups) a free renaming token to their account for the characters affected with conflicting names.
[/ QUOTE ]
A better way would be to merge both servers into a third server where no-one has a prior claim to the name, so everyone with the name has an equal chance of keeping it; the *best* way would be a way of supporting multiple characters using the same name.
*Paying* to rename is not the issue.
*Renaming* is the issue.
Personally I agree the population is too low, but it's more complicated than that. I just moved my main to a higher population server in WAR. I didn't move anything else as I would have to rename them. If I hadn't been able to move my Gobbo with his name intact, I wouldn't have resubbed, I feel the same way about many of my alts here; don't underestimate how attached people can get to the names they chose.
And as no guarantee can ever be given, there will remain this group playing this game that will remain vehemently against merging.
I personally think that the risk of losing your names and such is not that big, but it will happen to some people.
[ QUOTE ]
How am I rude?
[/ QUOTE ]
I explained that. Try reading the post you unnecessarily quoted the whole of again.
[ QUOTE ]
You do know that the majority of players don't read forums, yet alone even post in them?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, I do. Perhaps if they did, however, they would not sit around the servers talking about server merges because they would actually know more people in the game and be better able to find teams.
They would certainly know why NCWest have specifically stated that there are no plans to merge the servers.
[ QUOTE ]
And that this subject according to you, seems to be discussed each week for the past 6 months, should be a strong signal that appearently plenty of people feel the same way as me and my gf do.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh, it is strongly felt. It's also strongly felt that it would be a bad idea.
And it has also been officially stated that it won't happen. Not any time soon anyway.
PS. Attacking me for having a high post count is crass. I have a high post count because I have been a member of the forum community since 2005, and an active member of the forum and roleplay community for most of that time. The fact that you haven't is your problem, not mine.
Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.
Also, as far as I understand, Supergroups -don't- move with you when you transfer, even if you're the leader.
Our guild on WoW recently moved from an RP-PVP to an RP-PVE server. So not only did we have to go to all the trouble of getting people to sign our guild charter and redoing our tabbards, the real gall came when we had to start rebuying our bank tabs, especially at a level when we're close to getting our flying mounts.
Now, imagine losing millions in prestige, crafted base items, and hard work put into bases itself? I've only recently just gotten my base looking great, if someone said "Hey, we're merging the servers, you'll lose your SG and your base." I'd be likely to say "Okay, that's 17.99 less I have to pay every two months."
A fair deal of people do -not- like losing progress, be that in characters, items, base of operation and so forth. When you add in the effort some people go to and get attached to their names and such...
[ QUOTE ]
I personally think that the risk of losing your names and such is not that big, but it will happen to some people.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, Shadowe there has a 50/50 chance of his name going. I happen to know several of mine won't since I own them on both servers, but I also know that if you go looking for a name these days, chances are it's taken, so I think it's actually quite likely that some people will lose out in a server merge.
Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.
[ QUOTE ]
Also, as far as I understand, Supergroups -don't- move with you when you transfer, even if you're the leader.
Our guild on WoW recently moved from an RP-PVP to an RP-PVE server. So not only did we have to go to all the trouble of getting people to sign our guild charter and redoing our tabbards, the real gall came when we had to start rebuying our bank tabs, especially at a level when we're close to getting our flying mounts.
Now, imagine losing millions in prestige, crafted base items, and hard work put into bases itself? I've only recently just gotten my base looking great, if someone said "Hey, we're merging the servers, you'll lose your SG and your base." I'd be likely to say "Okay, that's 17.99 less I have to pay every two months."
A fair deal of people do -not- like losing progress, be that in characters, items, base of operation and so forth. When you add in the effort some people go to and get attached to their names and such...
[/ QUOTE ]
That's because Blizzard is lazy and stupid.
Mythic/GOA actually did transfers guilds, with all their XP and Renown intact with the recent transfers.
So it is possible.
And I know that SOE did it as well with EverQuest 2 couple years ago.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I personally think that the risk of losing your names and such is not that big, but it will happen to some people.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, Shadowe there has a 50/50 chance of his name going. I happen to know several of mine won't since I own them on both servers, but I also know that if you go looking for a name these days, chances are it's taken, so I think it's actually quite likely that some people will lose out in a server merge.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's why the best method would be to open up a NEW third server and open active transfers from both server to this new one.
Then the active players have an equal chance to tranfer their chars to this NEW server and keep their names.
That so many names are taken on this server, is because there are so many low level characters from players and trial players long gone and not coming back.
With a merger this way you leave a ton of unused non played characters behind and so basically free up a ton of names wich can be used again!
So while some people are afraid to have a chance to lose their name, comes also a great positive of being able to use a name you always wanted to use, but was already taken.
[ QUOTE ]
The fact that you haven't is your problem, not mine.
[/ QUOTE ]
But it doesnt give you the right to shoot your lip to a guy who, ok, doesnt frequent these boards much, but whose opinion is no less valid than your own.
Fine, he should probably have looked back using search to find if this has been suggested before, but his suggestion was at least constructed and his own opinion. Why not take the time to at least help a new board user by doing what Diggis did rather than jumping down his throat telling him to Go away and calling him rude
I doubt there would actually be a problem transfering guilds if they merged the servers, aside from the obvious naming issues.
And Z, you probably wouldn't need to worry anyway. Chances are, since Defiant is the lower population server, it would be merged into Union, so even if they weren't going to transfer bases and such, the UV base would survive.
I pity the folks on Defiant thought. 
But it does really seem to be mostly Defiant that wants a merge...
Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.
There's something about Fridays...
I can't see a server merge happening. NC have said it's not going to happen. If it did and I lost any of my higher level toons names (which I'm now quite attached to) I'd be off for pastures new like quite a few other people.
[ QUOTE ]
That's why the best method would be to open up a NEW third server and open active transfers from both server to this new one.
Then the active players have an equal chance to tranfer their chars to this NEW server and keep their names.
[/ QUOTE ]
No. You just check activity on the accounts and give priority to the one with the most activity.
[ QUOTE ]
That so many names are taken on this server, is because there are so many low level characters from players and trial players long gone and not coming back.
[/ QUOTE ]
Any name like that which is older than 90 days is freed up by automated scripts and can be reused. You'd know that if you read announcements more often.
[ QUOTE ]
With a merger this way you leave a ton of unused non played characters behind and so basically free up a ton of names wich can be used again!
[/ QUOTE ]
So... no you wouldn't, unless they decided to archive old accounts.
Now, let's look at that one, shall we. I'm not aware of any MMO out there who has done this. None of the major ones have. Storage is cheap, so holding old database records doesn't cost them much, and those old players might come back for a new Issue, or whatever.
Now, let's imagine that NCW were to decide to merge the two EU-Eng servers (a publicity nightmare, basically stating in no uncertain terms that your game is failing) and, at the same time, declare that to help with this process, they would be dumping a load of old character data which had not been used for (picking a number) 90 days (and they'd be the first major MMO company to chuck player's characters away).
I think CoX would then tank faster than a freighter carrying lead plate that got holed below the waterline by a nuclear bomb. Not pretty.
PS. With CO coming out soon(tm), the last things CoX needs is bad publicity, which is what you're suggesting they make for themselves.
Disclaimer: The above may be humerous, or at least may be an attempt at humour. Try reading it that way.
Posts are OOC unless noted to be IC, or in an IC thread.
Greetings,
I have been playing CoX off and on the past years together with my gf.
It's no secret that between the issue releases the populations are ....welll ....a bit low on both servers.
What I don't understand is. Why not merge Defiant and Union into one server.
One English Server = One, lot more active, English community!
It would be nice to see all the various zones more active again.
And it will be more fun for new people who join or people rolling ALT's to have an easier time to level up and actually see people around.
Joining high level Task Forces aren't exactly fun. You powerlevel like crazy through side kicking and so missing out on a lot of fun content.
As at this moment it's pretty much the only group thing going on mostly. Higher level task forces zerging through instances.
I think it would be better for the long run and might keep players subscribed longer, when you have just one English Server that is a lot more active then the two we have now.
Me and my gf really enjoy CoX, especially my gf. But we just kept getting bored after a short while, because there aren't many players around most days ....making the world feel a bit empty and less immersive.
Not to mention that the chat channels are really dead silent.
Cheers