City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

Merge the servers!

Ad Astra

By Ad Astra,
Posted on: 2010-01-27 22:37 in Player Questions

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by magnus1 View Post
Post Deleted
actually there is a way for you to do this now. go to your windows start menu, go to control panel, click on add/remove programs, find the CoH program and click on remove/uninstall. then do a disc clean up and defrag and voila, you have now successfully merged all the servers and gone to a serverless environment.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by mousedroid View Post
You know, there is a much more logical solution to the "Server Population Disparity Problem." Instead of merging servers like everyone always suggests, why doesn't anyone ever prose to reduce the number of character slots? If everyone only had five character slots per server, they'd have little choice but to branch out to other servers to create more alts. Not only would this likely boost the population of servers like Pinnacle, but it would probably have the added side benefit of reducing lag on servers like Virtue and Freedom during peak hours and during major events.

Yes, I know it is at least as bad, and probably a worse, an idea as server mergers, I just wonder why no one ever suggests it.
Lowing the number of slots you have on a server would be counter-productive to the fact that the number of slots have been increased from 8 to 12 to 36 over the years due to people with "alt-itis" running out of room on ALL servers already and/or enjoying their server so much they want to stay with the same crowd on new and different toons. What do you propose you do to the people who have most of their 36 already filled up on ALL the servers.. make them delete them? rofl

Also, it would do NOTHING to reduce lag on Freedom, Virtue, or anywhere else for that matter when you consider that you can only use 1 toon at a time anyway. Your logged out toons don't make the server lag, and if you like a server, you'll play there on existing toons anyway.

Actually, the only way it might reduce any lag (I don't personally have a problem on Freedom, but I don't hang out in Atlas either).. is because many people would certainly quit the game. Problem solved? haha

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunny_Slippers

My thoughts?

No
No
No
Hell No,
and...um...
oh yeah.....NO

Just because you have trouble teaming doesn't mean the rest of us do.
Also, the Search Feature is your friend.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adeon Hawkwood

Wow, is it that time of the month already?

Dr. Incedible, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you don't normally read the forums but this idea has been discussed many, many times and the general concensus amognst forumites is that it would be a bad idea. If you use the search feature you can probably find the last few threads on the subject (please don't necro them but they have the general arguments against it).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ad Astra

A rhetorical question (without a ?, even) does not make the topic appropriate to Player Questions.

The real question here seems to be "Is it that time of the month again?" to which the answer appears to be "looks like it is".
OP - no thank you.
Quote:
Why server consolidation is not a good idea.
Welcome to the forum. You have posted one of the oft repeated suggestions, "Consolidate the servers."

Disclaimer

Yes. This is a cut and paste reply that I keep handy, as well as a quick bit of instruction on how to search. Neither are meant to cause fights or to be insulting. The search instructions are in, not just because forum rules say flat out to search, but to help you and anyone else reading this use the search tool effectively.

The body of the cut and paste reply is the way it is because we've seen these arguments numerous times before. They're a summary of the salient points that come up each time. They are not here to insult you, make you feel stupid or otherwise "bring you down a peg." Instead, they are meant as instruction and information. Please read through the points and the explanation behind them to see the issues that are commonly brought up in response. They may not always match your suggestion 100% - in fact, you may have explained around one or two of them - but they're there for consideration and refinement of your idea.

Yes, I do look forward to the time, with some of these suggestions, that someone not only addresses all the points, but does so exceptionally well. It'll probably be added to the end of the cut/paste reply, with credit. For now, though, read and consider the points. They really are just there to help you, and move discussion along to help ideas evolve.

If you're going to see this and say an "evil forum vet is just shooting down your idea," or "You think you're the last word because of your post count," you're wrong. Heck, if you say the second, you've just worried more about my post count than I have in the last four plus years. Tongue-in-cheek comments in here are meant as hummor, not put downs.

TL,DR section.

First, my stock answer, one which I stand by and repeat with all due fervor. HELL NO.

Searching effectively

1. Click on "Search" up at the top of the forum.
2. On the left, under "Forum(s) to search," select "Suggestions and ideas."
3. On the right, Keyword Search Terms. This is probably where your problem was if you did search. Try the following, exactly as typed:
+server -pvp -"re: "
This will search for anything with "Server" in the title, including Servers, Combine Servers, Consolidate Servers, and The Server At Mcdonalds Is Rude. it will eliminate "PVP," so you won't see PVP server requests, and the -re: portion of it removes replies, so you'll see the root of every thread that comes up, letting you see just how many threads there are on this. (The last helps for other subjects, as well.)
4. Click the "In subject" radio button. This is a search, not a cute blonde in a bikini. Here, you want to ignore the body.
5. Leave Username Search blank.
6. Date range, Newer Than, change the 1 to a 3, and the time to Months.
7. Result format doesn't matter. Click on "Submit."

As I try this now, (12/3/08,) we have:

Consolidate Server
Server Stats RSS Feed
$server modifier ofr chat
Fix the forum server
Earlyissue server
Merging low population server
Combine slow server
Server status
Global chat on the Character and Server Screens
Rated M server
Add Ponies, Nerf Vills, merge Servers, PistolMelee
Server Visiting
Display Central Time on Server Status Page

Ignoring the smartalec reply, that's three full discussions about this topic.
You should have read one of them if (inevitably) something similar comes up in your search.

Now, on to the topic at hand....

Why server consolidation is not a good idea.

1. Just because YOU like living in New York City doesn't mean I can't like Kansas.

Yay, you love having huge lag spikes as you get near the black market/wentworths and a busy broadcast. Congrats. Enjoy Freedom. Some of us - many of which you will get replies from with this subject - like *low population* servers. If we *wanted* to be on Freedom, we'd *be* on Freedom.

I have characters on Freedom. I rarely play them (and actually moved a character OFF of Freedom to finish leveling it to 50) because *I DON'T LIKE FREEDOM.* I dislike the banality of broadcast, the high percentage of *horrid* teams I've come across there, the lag around any gathering point- and I've got a decent connection and system. For much the same reason, I typically startin Galaxy City instead of Atlas Park - I don't *want* to log in to a costume contest with several 50s spamming powers and nonsense arguments in broadcast.

Some of us *like* nice, quiet servers.

2, Kansas, part 2.

In addition, servers have their own personalities. No, I don't mean that literally, there's no AI to worry about if you start hearing "Daisy, Daisy" over your speakers or headset. Freedom's a crowded mess. Virtue is the RP server. Pinnacle is the "Drunk" server. Others have specific communities, such as those from Australia/NZ, Europe, etc.

3. "I only saw one other person. World of Conancraft has eleventy billion!"
So what?

We don't run around camping spawn points in this game. People are in missions. People are spread across many zones. Search on a map or do a /whoall and you'll miss those in missions, as well as those who are, for whatever reason, on /hide. Your "search" there didn't give you a full picture, not in the least.

I understand the "feel" of things being "not very populated," but take a good look around when you're in game. Typically, you don't really have a lot of visibility. Standing in steel canyon, there could be multiple, full 8 person groups surrounding you, and it's likely you'd never see them. We have buildings, walls, architecture, trees and more limiting our visibility. Yes, it can make you feel more alone... but that's rarely the case. Add to that that the population is spread between many, MANY zones, most quite large, and among two sides... well...

4. "I put up my LFT flag and nothing happened!"
Learn to search. Don't just wait. Form a team yourself.

5. "I AM SPARTACUS!" No, not any more.
Remember logging in and seeing all those slots? Everyone has those - some buy more than the base 12, you get an extra one each year, you could have a total of 36 on any server. Everyone does. Every one has a character with a unique name. Maybe not a *good* name, but a unique one. Every one has a character with a unique name. Maybe not a *good* name, but a unique one.

Now merge servers. Suddenly, CoolBlasterDude from server 1 is getting merged with CoolBlasterDude from Server 2. Who gets to keep their name? Nobody has been able to answer this with any degree of satisfaction. Add a number? But I am NOT CoolBlasterGuy1. And what if the name's too long? Does the older character keep it? What if they're not as active?
People are *VERY* attached to their names. They are, quite obviously, part of their character.

6. "This Is SPARTA!" Sorry, Sparta exists already. You are GenericSG 8734 287 9798.

What else has a name? Supergroups. And I can *guarandamntee* that the same name is in use on multiple servers. Sometimes it's 'branches' of the same SG, sometimes it's coincidence. But with *everything* involved in an SG - from its identity and reputation on the server, to everything stored in the database about what it owns, what its base is like and such, this would be a disaster in the making. And no, auto merging them when the servers merge, even if they have room to, is not an option.
This, of course, assumes that they *CAN* move supergroups as a unit. More than likely, it'd just be a mass character move, with bases, prestige, anything stored in bases and all SG affiliations just gone forever.

7. "I am... where'd Spartacus go?"
Remember all those slots? Well, you start with 1/3 of the available ones. You can buy up to 36 total (24 on top of the ones you get initially.) Now, what do you suppose would happen if you merged two servers, and someone has, say, 20 characters on each? Not unusual. In fact, before those extra slots, I had *filled up* several servers. Do those characters just disappear? Do they move? Free move to another server sounds great, right... well, except you now kick them from their supergroup, remove them from their friends lists and more. This makes for angry and unhappy customers. Or rather, ex customers.

8. I will play where I damn well want to. And you can too.
And that should be blunt enough. If I want a crowded server, I'll go to Freedom. If I want an RP server, I'll go to Virtue. I do NOT want to be shoved onto another server I *don't* like. If I wanted to go there, *I'd be there.*

If the server you're on isn't "busy" enough for you, you have two options that won't bother anyone else.

(A) If it's low enough, reroll. You have a ton of character slots for a reason.

(B) If you don't want to reroll, server transfers are available, and relatively cheap. They also finish fast - you should be up and running and being spammed to join someone's SG on the new server in a few minutes, in most instances. So YOU can go to the server of YOUR choice without screwing ME over.

9. "It'll free up server hardware for Freedom!" No, no it won't.
Freedom, because of the load it tends to have, already has more resources dedicated to it than other servers. And ALL of the servers have been upgraded multiple times. The servers are not allocated exactly the same. The servers that handle less of a load have less dedicated to them.
So this argument doesn't fly.

10. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Last but not least (at least until better points come along to be added,) server consolidation is widely viewed in the industry as an MMO going on life support. No, we don't have WoWs numbers (and you should actually pay attention to when and how they got those.) They're an abberation in the MMO industry. COH has had and does have a very successful, sustainable population even at its lowest points, so there's no economic need to combine anything. The flip side of that, of course, has been suggested above - you crowd people together, break up their SGs and friends lists, cause characters to go missing and poeple definitely *will* quit, both out of annoyance and a sense of "The game is almost dead!"
In conclusion....

As stated before, when it comes to server consolidation... HELL NO.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Valkyrja View Post
What they said.
What she said they said.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by magnus1 View Post
Post Deleted
Wh--you feel that all the Dev's on this game are worthless? Wow.

Find me a worthless Dev, and I'll pay your subscription for the rest of your run on CoX.

There are no words for what this community, and the friends I have made here mean to me. Please know that I care for all of you, yes, even you. If you Twitter, I'm MrThan. If you're Unleashed, I'm dumps. I'll try and get registered on the Titan Forums as well. Peace, and thanks for the best nine years anyone could ever ask for.

 

Posted

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Originally Posted by Forbin_Project View Post
What she said they said.
and if you ain't down with that, we got 2 words for ya.....

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr_Incredible View Post
Yes, you may lose your toon name.. but teaming would be a LOT better.
Your thoughts...
Simple enough question.
NO. And a simple enough answer.

If *YOU* are having trouble teaming, feel free to ferry to Freedom (say that 10 times fast). You have 3 days left for the free transfers.

Paragon City Search And Rescue
The Mentor Project

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by DumpleBerry View Post
Wh--you feel that all the Dev's on this game are worthless? Wow.

Find me a worthless Dev, and I'll pay your subscription for the rest of your run on CoX.
Statesman! Do I win?

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Originally Posted by PRAF68_EU View Post
Dispari has more than enough credability, and certainly doesn't need to borrow any from you.

 

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Nope, he's not a current dev of this game.

 

Posted

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Originally Posted by Westley View Post
Nope, he's not a current dev of this game.
Dumple didn't say they had to be a CURRENT dev! Plus, he left this game to go make another one in which he implemented all the stuff that didn't work the first time in CoH, while saying we suck. I'd say he's pretty worthless!

Quote:
Originally Posted by PRAF68_EU View Post
Dispari has more than enough credability, and certainly doesn't need to borrow any from you.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schismatrix View Post
It has been postulated by Westley in the general discussion forums that it seems somewhat suspicious that a lot of people with low post counts and join dates no later than about two years ago are starting various whinge/doom threads, never posting again after the first post, then starting a similar thread in another section, and this is all happening right as Cryptic announces an expansion.

Perhaps it's a plot. Or just a particularly venal sort of astroturfing.
I find the CO forums quite amusing. Especially the announcement of their 'paid expansion', which barely equals what we get in a free issue. Major exodus going on over there.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dispari View Post
Statesman! Do I win?
Sorry, but your answer must be in the form of a Dev currently employed at Paragon Studios. (Admittedly the offer does not specify that. Quite an oversight.)
Also, Jack Emmert was far from worthless, regardless of what you may think of his communications prior to the buyout. During CoH's development he was in charge of all of the good things that keep people playing to this day, even if he also did and said things that weren't as good, so he can hardly be called worthless.

Dr. Todt's theme.
i make stuff...

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schismatrix View Post
Also, Jack Emmert was far from worthless, regardless of what you may think of his communications prior to the buyout. He was in charge of all of the good things that keep people playing to this day, even if he also did and said things that weren't as good, so he can hardly be called worthless.
Oh I know he USED to do nice stuff. But I'm speaking currently. He left us to make a rival game while claiming our playerbase is blind and that the game (which he made) sucks. He's definitely worthless NOW.

Quote:
Originally Posted by PRAF68_EU View Post
Dispari has more than enough credability, and certainly doesn't need to borrow any from you.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dispari View Post
Oh I know he USED to do nice stuff. But I'm speaking currently. He left us to make a rival game while claiming our playerbase is blind and that the game (which he made) sucks. He's definitely worthless NOW.
So you're allowed to select Devs from other games now?
In that case, "Bill Roper, I choose you!"
*throws Dev-E Ball*
"Roper, use money-gated content attack!"

Dr. Todt's theme.
i make stuff...

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schismatrix View Post
So you're allowed to select Devs from other games now?
In that case, "Bill Roper, I choose you!"
*throws Dev-E Ball*
"Roper, use money-gated content attack!"
Only if they used to work on CoH.

Quote:
Originally Posted by PRAF68_EU View Post
Dispari has more than enough credability, and certainly doesn't need to borrow any from you.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by mousedroid View Post
You know, there is a much more logical solution to the "Server Population Disparity Problem." Instead of merging servers like everyone always suggests, why doesn't anyone ever prose to reduce the number of character slots? If everyone only had five character slots per server, they'd have little choice but to branch out to other servers to create more alts. Not only would this likely boost the population of servers like Pinnacle, but it would probably have the added side benefit of reducing lag on servers like Virtue and Freedom during peak hours and during major events.

Yes, I know it is at least as bad, and probably a worse, an idea as server mergers, I just wonder why no one ever suggests it.
I have characters on every server, on two accounts. I have multiple servers that have all free slots filled up, as well as several paid slots. Those that aren't, I can't think of any that have fewer than five (thus, an open slot.) I know many, *many* people in the same situation.

Your idea = multiple lost subscriptions. Especially (a) after increasing slots with CoV, and (b) implementing paid-for extra slots.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by GibsonMcCoy View Post
I think this says it all about Magnus, who was so unoriginal he had to use Magneto's real name to post:

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...34#post2559134

Aha, aha, ahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAaaaa....
Oh dear...but, serious face now;

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zwillinger View Post
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain_Photon View Post
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

 

Posted

My thoughts on server merging - No , Nein, Nyet.

 

Posted

Doc - I would prefer not to go through the negatives of a server merge so that I will be available to play the game with you when you feel like it.

My scrapper doesn't need an AoE. She IS an AoE.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Postagulous View Post
We are now squawking about random stuff too.
And now, for Haggis.

Quote:
Ingredients

  • 1 sheep stomach
  • 1 sheep liver
  • 1 sheep heart
  • 1 sheep tongue
  • 1/2 pound suet, minced
  • 3 medium onions, minced
  • 1/2 pound dry oats, toasted
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried ground herbs
Directions

Rinse the stomach thoroughly and soak overnight in cold salted water.
Rinse the liver, heart, and tongue. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook these parts over medium heat for 2 hours. Remove and mince. Remove any gristle or skin and discard.
In a large bowl, combine the minced liver, heart, tongue, suet, onions, and toasted oats. Season with salt, pepper, and dried herbs. Moisten with some of the cooking water so the mixture binds. Remove the stomach from the cold salted water and fill 2/3 with the mixture. Sew or tie the stomach closed. Use a turning fork to pierce the stomach several times. This will prevent the haggis from bursting.
In a large pot of boiling water, gently place the filled stomach, being careful not to splash. Cook over high heat for 3 hours.
Serve with mashed potatoes, if you serve it at all.

 

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Did you know it's now legal again to import haggis from Scotland to America? I just found out the other day. I know what I'm having for Valentine's Day!

 

Posted

I propose the following merged server and the new server names:

-Libinfree (living free): Liberty, Freedom, Infinity
-Tripin' (tripping): Triumph, Pinnacle
-ViViVi: (it looked cool): Virtue, Victory, Vigilance

Then we'll clone infinity and get this:
InJustice: Infinity and Justice

Since I can't come up with what to do with the rest, just arbitralily delete those. I'm sure then the OP will be able to find a team. It just might speak another language.

Oh. Oops. On the idea.

I mean NO.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Master-Blade View Post
Also, it would do NOTHING to reduce lag on Freedom, Virtue, or anywhere else for that matter when you consider that you can only use 1 toon at a time anyway. Your logged out toons don't make the server lag, and if you like a server, you'll play there on existing toons anyway.

Actually, the only way it might reduce any lag (I don't personally have a problem on Freedom, but I don't hang out in Atlas either).. is because many people would certainly quit the game. Problem solved? haha

What I know about programming wouldn't fill a thimble, but re: lag, I always just assume that someone on my team has a PC not quite as powerful as mine, so choppiness/lag results from the game having to slow things down a bit so we're all staying in synch.

I've been on full 8-man teams with no chop during intense action, and full teams with major chop during intense action. I see no correlation between current Server population/activity and current lag/chop. My assumption seems logical to me. Is it incorrect?

 

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Since I can't come up with a reason you should live Tonality, you will be executed in the Guardian Shard at dawn.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Troll er...Dr_Incredible
With the dwindling numbers of players and lack of teams available maybe those sitting around in the studios should merge their servers in to 1.
Yes, you may lose your toon name.. but teaming would be a LOT better.
Your thoughts...
My thoughts? I wonder if you had any of your own before you comitted Buk... Suicide by rehashing the threaded horse that just won't die, go away, or even stop stealing carrots from the twisted burrow...

Comic and Hero/Villain Culture
Saturday January 29th, 2005 (12:37 PM) ~ Monday August 9th, 2010
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