You should probably check out the server forums to get an idea what their populations are like. That might help you get a feel for the playstyle as well. Sorry I can't offer much more though since I play on one of the NA servers, Justice.
awakened death 50 necro/dark mm, Necrospider 50 Crabspider, Death's Hunter 50 claw/regen stalker, Inhuman-Rampage 50 DM/WP brute, Xander the Protector 50 Kat/sr scrapper, Phantom Force 50 Ill/Rad Controller, Friendly Persuader 50 Inv/Wm tank
Global: @Cinder Spawn
Welcome!
I play on Defiant and it has a decent population (evenings being the busiest) though have had my fair share of Daytime TF's! I hear Union is "The RP Server", but I find plenty of people to roleplay with on Defiant.
My advice, make a toon on each, see how it goes!
Edited after reading the question properly
One thing you should be aware of is that, given that CoH is based heavily around instanced missions, you won't see that many people just running around the streets. Unfortunately, the heavy restrictions on the Trial make this worse, as much of what goes on is found through the Global Chat Channels.
One thing you can do is make a note on your 'Looking for Team' message that you are a trial account. That way, people won't think you aren't interested if they send you a Tell asking if you want to join a team and don't get a reply.
However, it turned out that Smith was not a time-travelling Terminator
Since you are only getting the trial now, might I make a quick suggestion?
If you like the game, get the US version if you can. I hear a lot of complaints from EU players about their servers being lower population, and you might be better off getting a US account than an EU account for that.
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I was just the one with the most unsolicited sombrero." - Traegus
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Originally Posted by Aett_Thorn
Since you are only getting the trial now, might I make a quick suggestion?
If you like the game, get the US version if you can. I hear a lot of complaints from EU players about their servers being lower population, and you might be better off getting a US account than an EU account for that. |
I second this. If you are interested in a large, healthy population on the server you choose, you would probably be better off getting a NA account.
It will save frustration and complaint later if the popuation on the EU servers isn't up to your expectations. Or, alternately, you could get a trial of both (which I think you can do) and see which you like better.
The biggest advantage the NA side has is that it has more servers total. EU has, 4 I think? NA has 11. All servers have a maximum of 36 possible character slots, so if you create a lot of characters you will have more room on NA.
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Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
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There are also plenty of EU players that think the population on their server is just fine. It all depends on what you yourself consider well-populated. Most of the people I know (on Union, the slightly larger population of the EU servers) rarely have trouble getting a team if they want one, but that's because they have access to global channels and are willing to actually put a minimum of effort into it, even starting their own. Which you can't really do effectively on a Trial account.|
Originally Posted by Aett_Thorn
Since you are only getting the trial now, might I make a quick suggestion?
If you like the game, get the US version if you can. I hear a lot of complaints from EU players about their servers being lower population, and you might be better off getting a US account than an EU account for that. |
On the other hand, for just getting invited to a random team (which would help with meeting people and making friends), then yes, you would almost certainly be better off on one of the more populated US servers (and bear in mind that some of them don't have populations substantially bigger than Union. With more servers, they get more opportunity to divide into different 'communities', including small-town types). Although the time difference might affect how many people are on when you are as well.
Your best bet is probably, as was already stated, try getting a trial on the US side as well, and see which one suits you best. And remember, wherever you end up, the game gets vastly more enjoyable once you are off the trial and can interact properly with your fellow heroes/villains.
However, it turned out that Smith was not a time-travelling Terminator
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My suggestion would be to try both eu and na to fit your gaming hours.|
Originally Posted by Davechan87
Hi everyone.
I am downloading the free trial now, and am wondering if anyone could help me to choose a server? I am looking for a well populated and fun server, as I don;t see the point in playing on a server that has no one on it. I played champions online for a month, and unfortunately did not like the game or the direction the developers were taking the game in. How is CoX lately? The community still fun and interesting? Does the game still hold up? Is the game split up into many instances like champions? Hope to hear from you soon, and if anyone has a guild they would like me to join, please get in touch. Thanks, Dave |
Union has stuff going on at peak hours (around 18.00 gmt) but most activities are sg/coalition/global based tf´s happen a bit every now and then but it can be hard to get a pug going.
About same for Defiant.
No clue what happens on zukunft and vigilance. I think zukunft gathers at their own unofficial boards more.
As for the servers i´ve played on the NA.
Freedom has stuff happening most of the day at all hours but a bit slower during the day.
Justice has a great community and if you play earlier in the day you can catch aussies and assorted oceanics.
Infinity i have played alittle on but its seems to be busy at peak hours mostly.
Another suggestion would be setting your serach comment to "Blind invites ok" as you cannot reply to tells on a trial account
thank you for all the replies so far. I am starting playing today on one of the Eu servers. Worried about the population though. In regards to playing on the US servers, I would mainly be playing in the day/evening UK time. Would there still be alot of players?
On average how many players are on the EU side, and I guess, how many that speak english? Its a shame that from reading the boards, the UK population at least seems fairly low?
Anyway I will reply with my character name once I have created him, and we can hopefully go from there.
Dave
As for how many speak English on the EU servers, on Defiant and Union just about everyone.
BTW you can tell who are from the main land of Europe they speak far better English then most Brits
Happy to be on Defiant.
Global name @mereman
Member of P.E.R.C. Representing Defiant
Alts http://cit.cohtitan.com/profile/4488
CoH faces http://faces.cohtitan.com/profile/mereman
Well I am from the UK and have played on the EU Union Server for years, never having a problem getting a a team. I guess the myth is true; the people that complain about server population never make their own teams?
Feel free to send me a /tell @Soul Storm any time!
thanks Soul I might just do that. Annoyingly I wanted to team up with a fellow free trial dude from france, but we couldn't invite each other to a team! Kind of annoying. I worry about population, I find someone there who straight away wants to team and no luck! 
Well, if you're on Union, pop along any time after 9.00pm UK time to the big crowd underneath the Galaxy Girl statue in Galaxy city (go to the trainer, face him straight on, then look up - we're under THAT statue) (any day that's not a Wednesday) and say "Shad? You said you'd get me and my friend in a team together".
I'll help you out with that, and might be able to help you hunt out a team from the global channels I'm on.
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.*
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Yeah, the heavy restrictions on the Trial accounts were placed as an effort against RMTers trying to sell Inf. Unfortunately, they were perhaps a little too heavy handed, in that they can affect the quality of play for those genuinely interested in the game, such as yourself. (One of the mods did post in a thread after one person related similar troubles that they might take a look at maybe trying to make things a little looser.)|
Originally Posted by Davechan87
thanks Soul I might just do that. Annoyingly I wanted to team up with a fellow free trial dude from france, but we couldn't invite each other to a team! Kind of annoying. I worry about population, I find someone there who straight away wants to team and no luck!
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Luckily, the vast majority of people here are friendly (if a little...strange) and people like Shadowe above will be happy to go out of their way to try and help you get indoctrinated, uh, to help you see more of what the game can offer.
However, it turned out that Smith was not a time-travelling Terminator
Welcome to the game and the forum
If you need help Euro-side, I'm on Defiant server
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Hey Kiken I hope you are not adding me in with the strange types
Happy to be on Defiant.
Global name @mereman
Member of P.E.R.C. Representing Defiant
Alts http://cit.cohtitan.com/profile/4488
CoH faces http://faces.cohtitan.com/profile/mereman
Just a quick update on me.
The trial is going well, and I may just bite the bullet and subscribe soon, will give it another day or two just to make sure.
my Characters name is Davire so if you see him hopelessly wandering around the Union server, its me!
Just visted the pocket D place; it was pretty cool. I need a villain to finish one mission though, but I am only level 5 so am sure it can wait.
The server seems quite quiet, however I was on at 3pm earlier. Does the server search look for those that are in super bases or in the little mission instances?
Dave =)
Yes, the team search shows people who are in missions or SG bases. However, it won't show you anyone who has Hidden from search (obviously). Also, bear in mind that an unknown number of people will be over on the Test server, in the closed Beta for Dual Pistols, and a lot of those might well be the kind who would have been on early afternoon on a Sunday.
Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself so far, though. And I'd say it was worth biting that bullet. But then, I'm biased
However, it turned out that Smith was not a time-travelling Terminator
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It will show people that are already on teams (name will be grey in Search,) it will show people that are in instanced missions.|
Originally Posted by Kiken
Yes, the team search shows people who are in missions or SG bases. However, it won't show you anyone who has Hidden from search (obviously). Also, bear in mind that an unknown number of people will be over on the Test server, in the closed Beta for Dual Pistols, and a lot of those might well be the kind who would have been on early afternoon on a Sunday.
Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself so far, though. And I'd say it was worth biting that bullet. But then, I'm biased |
And to Dave, until the end of the month, you also have the option to Transfer you character to another EU server and check them out, as opposed to creating a new character on those servers.
Edit: Thanks Agge, for correcting me, and pointing out that you have to select 'All' under maps.
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Uhhh... yes it will. You need to select 'all' under "maps".|
Originally Posted by Red Valkyrja
It will show people that are already on teams (name will be grey in Search,) but it will not show people that are in instanced missions.
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ParagonWiki's page on the Search window
ParagonWiki's page on the /search command
Paragon Wiki: http://www.paragonwiki.com
City Info Terminal: http://cit.cohtitan.com
Mids Hero Designer: http://www.cohplanner.com
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Originally Posted by Dispari
I don't know why Dink thinks she's not as sexy as Jay was. In 5 posts she's already upstaged his entire career.
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That is quite depressing then that there was only 130 online last night then 
What are the server numbers like on the US servers?
Not moving just yet, just wondering
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Originally Posted by Davechan87
That is quite depressing then that there was only 130 online last night then
What are the server numbers like on the US servers?Not moving just yet, just wondering |
It depends on the server. I know sometime back the Devs posted some figures that showed that the EU server player numbers were largely in line with those on the lower population US servers. The US do, however, have Freedom and Virtue (I think it's Virtue, anyway) that have a noticeably larger population than average. Although how many of those would be on at the same time as you, and not Hidden so they showed up in Search, I couldn't say.
However, it turned out that Smith was not a time-travelling Terminator
I've played on both EU and US servers. And I found very little difference due to the time zone issue. Sure, if I logged onto Virtue at three o'clock in the morning UK time, the server would be buzzing. But doing so at a time when the US is in bed, I found it no different to playing on the EU servers at a quiet time.
Personally, I would love to see more players and to be able to team up with our US counterparts but that is an entirely different (and often debated) subject. The best way to get regular teaming is to either run teams yourself or get in with a good supergroup. Or join an active channel. However, as I said in the other thread, I'm at a loss to recommend any as all the ones I belong to are RP or badgehunting orientated.
Maybe some of my fellow Unionites can help fill in the gaps in my ignorance?
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
Hi everyone.
I am downloading the free trial now, and am wondering if anyone could help me to choose a server? I am looking for a well populated and fun server, as I don;t see the point in playing on a server that has no one on it.
I played champions online for a month, and unfortunately did not like the game or the direction the developers were taking the game in. How is CoX lately? The community still fun and interesting? Does the game still hold up? Is the game split up into many instances like champions?
Hope to hear from you soon, and if anyone has a guild they would like me to join, please get in touch.
Thanks,
Dave