EQ2 Blog: When Is It Time To Merge Servers?
When Is It Time To Merge Servers?
So, you're running around Nektolos Forest happily whistling a tune while swatting at the occasional annoying Shade Spinner that wanders on to the path, when it suddenly occurs to you. You haven't seen another player in that zone since you logged on earlier in the day.
Perplexed, you search high and low for a sign of life. From Nektropos Castle to N'Mar's Ascent you are unable to find a single soul. Your /shout is answered only by the chirp of a nearby Sap Urchin.
Like a scene out of "I Am Legend" you suddenly have an eery feeling of solitude and isolation. Where did everyone go? What happened to the once frequent "LFG!" in the Level_1-9 Chat? How come nobody has bought any of your rares in the past two day off the Broker?
Perhaps its time for your server to merge with a more populated one at that point? At what point is it time to merge the low populations with the more active communities?
In my opinion.. Never. Read on, and I'll explain why.
SpyderBite
Venekor Server
"Your Anger Makes Me Feel All Warm And Fuzzy Inside"
The Problem
When a servers population dwindles down to a few hundred people and maybe only 50 or 60 logged in at any given time; it's probably a good idea to start looking at possible solutions. Its important to have a healthy population in a game that encourages group play. The server you might have chosen to roll your first character on was a bustling active community a couple years ago. But, today it is all but empty. This sort of environment makes even some of the simplest of tasks difficult to accomplish. And worse, activities such as raids impossible.
So Why Does This Happen?
There are a number of reasons that server populations slowly burn out like an old star, especially in a game that has been around for a few years such as EverQuest 2 or Star Wars Galaxies. New games emerge on the market and people with a tight budget may not be able to justify paying for two monthly subscriptions. At the time of release, there are many servers opened in order to accomodate all the excited new players. But, as time passes, people move on to other games, or consolidate on other servers to play with their friends and family. Regardless, of the reasoning, it will inevitably occur eventually to a few servers.
So Why Doesn't SOE Just Merge The Servers?
This is the question that many people ask without considering a couple of things. First of all, the merging of two servers is a much more complex process than just ripping the hard drive out of on server and shoving it in to another one. There are issues with the unique naming array, server discoveries, guild rankings, and a whole array (pardon the pun) of database conflicts to manage. Yet, there are still people who will request, or more often, demand that a server merger take place. And, that it take place yesterday! As if there were this switch on the wall at the data center labeled "Flick this switch to initiate a Server Merger".
So When Is It Time To Merge Servers?
In my opinion? When the last person has transferred off the server. When there isn't a single registered and active (logged in within the past 30 days) subscription standing on server in question.
Seems like a waste of money to run a server with just a handful of people on it, doesn't it? And, to be honest it is a complete money sink. However, we don't mow down a patch of woods just because there's only one family deer left living in it do we? Those deer are probably pretty damn happy right where they are. To displace them is only going to traumatize them. The same idealogy applies to the remaining players on a slowly dying server. That small guild may be perfectly content with their small quiet server and have no desire to exist amongst thousands of other players tying up instances, waiting in line for place holder mobs, or competing with 300 other merchants on broker undercutting their prices every 5 minutes. For whatever reason, these players do not want to move.
So What Is The Solution If Not A Forced Server Merge?
Simple answer. So, simple in fact that it absolutely baffles me that people cry "Merger!" at the first sign of a diminishing population on their server.
Free Character Transfers for a limited time. This gives everyone a choice of which server they would like to transfer to instead of herding them on to one server which may not have the type of community that appeals to certain players.
Case in point.
I play on Venekor in EverQuest II. My server is labeled as RP (Role Play) and PvP (Player vs Player). Its a server with a small population and whats considered a "Casual PvP" environment. This means that I'm not set upon by 5, 10 no 20 large lads (Sorry for the Robin Hood reference) every time I leave West Freeport. But, I know where the popular areas to farm, harvest, quest are. So, if I'm looking for a fight I know where to look. And, at all times I can enjoy that sense of always looking over my shoulder in an otherwise predictable environment such as that that exists on the PvE (Player vs Environment) servers. Now, Nagafen is also a PvP server, which does not encourage or discourage Role Play. My preferred play style. It also has a much larger population than Venekor. In fact, some claim that Venekor is all but empty these days. So empty, that many people are crying "Server Merger!" at this very moment.
Here's the rub. By merging Venekor with Nagafen, hundreds of people who enjoy the laid back atmosphere of their "Casual PvP" Role Play server, are thrust on to a server and thrown to the wolves. Their preferred play style of Role Play is no longer entertained and the close knit "small town" feel they are used is replaced by thousands of blood thirsty PK's (Player Killers) whose only goal in EQ2 is to kill anything and anyone that moves on their screen.
I would almost, and I emphasize almost, prefer to be merged with a PvE server if faced with such a merger. And, I'm not alone. As a matter of fact, quitting the game all together is more appealing to many people than such a union of differing play styles.
Free Character Transfers Is The Only Solution.
A window of one week is plenty of time for people to decide what they'd like to do. And, it gives them a choice instead of having a choice made for them, which is exactly what a Server Merge does.
1. They can sit and go down with the ship if they so choose. Play on the empty server until they receive the ingame message that the server will be shut down for good in 10 minutes.
2. Transfer to a server which is more condusive to their play stye. In the scenario I cited above, the residents of Venekor can transfer to Nagafen. Or they can transfer to a PvE server. Its a radical decision, I admit. But, its also a very unique situation based on the play styles involved. This type of decision would be very easy for those on a dying PvE server because there would be a dozen other servers to choose from.
3. Quit the game. Harsh? Yeah. But, lets face it, if you're not happy with your current situation and you've already been offered alternatives, none of which you are agreeable to. What choice do you have left? But, lets face it, people who love EverQuest II will most likely choose one of the options above.
So in closing, it is very apparent that server mergers are rarely the solution to a low population. And, Free Character Transfers are Win-Win situation for both the players and SOE. Player have a choice. And, SOE is saving time, money and resources by simply removing the $50 transfer fee for a limited time.
So, to those out there screaming "Merge The Servers!!": Knock it off! What you want is not always best for the rest of the community. You are simply being selfish and with such an attitude, I'm sure many of your peers would probably chip in towards the $50 just to get you the hell off their server anyways.
Till next time.. Safe travels, and may your purse be full when you're AFK and green conned on my Tracking Window! XD
SpyderBite
So, you're running around Nektolos Forest happily whistling a tune while swatting at the occasional annoying Shade Spinner that wanders on to the path, when it suddenly occurs to you. You haven't seen another player in that zone since you logged on earlier in the day.
Perplexed, you search high and low for a sign of life. From Nektropos Castle to N'Mar's Ascent you are unable to find a single soul. Your /shout is answered only by the chirp of a nearby Sap Urchin.
Like a scene out of "I Am Legend" you suddenly have an eery feeling of solitude and isolation. Where did everyone go? What happened to the once frequent "LFG!" in the Level_1-9 Chat? How come nobody has bought any of your rares in the past two day off the Broker?
Perhaps its time for your server to merge with a more populated one at that point? At what point is it time to merge the low populations with the more active communities?
In my opinion.. Never. Read on, and I'll explain why.
SpyderBite
Venekor Server
"Your Anger Makes Me Feel All Warm And Fuzzy Inside"
The Problem
When a servers population dwindles down to a few hundred people and maybe only 50 or 60 logged in at any given time; it's probably a good idea to start looking at possible solutions. Its important to have a healthy population in a game that encourages group play. The server you might have chosen to roll your first character on was a bustling active community a couple years ago. But, today it is all but empty. This sort of environment makes even some of the simplest of tasks difficult to accomplish. And worse, activities such as raids impossible.
So Why Does This Happen?
There are a number of reasons that server populations slowly burn out like an old star, especially in a game that has been around for a few years such as EverQuest 2 or Star Wars Galaxies. New games emerge on the market and people with a tight budget may not be able to justify paying for two monthly subscriptions. At the time of release, there are many servers opened in order to accomodate all the excited new players. But, as time passes, people move on to other games, or consolidate on other servers to play with their friends and family. Regardless, of the reasoning, it will inevitably occur eventually to a few servers.
So Why Doesn't SOE Just Merge The Servers?
This is the question that many people ask without considering a couple of things. First of all, the merging of two servers is a much more complex process than just ripping the hard drive out of on server and shoving it in to another one. There are issues with the unique naming array, server discoveries, guild rankings, and a whole array (pardon the pun) of database conflicts to manage. Yet, there are still people who will request, or more often, demand that a server merger take place. And, that it take place yesterday! As if there were this switch on the wall at the data center labeled "Flick this switch to initiate a Server Merger".
So When Is It Time To Merge Servers?
In my opinion? When the last person has transferred off the server. When there isn't a single registered and active (logged in within the past 30 days) subscription standing on server in question.
Seems like a waste of money to run a server with just a handful of people on it, doesn't it? And, to be honest it is a complete money sink. However, we don't mow down a patch of woods just because there's only one family deer left living in it do we? Those deer are probably pretty damn happy right where they are. To displace them is only going to traumatize them. The same idealogy applies to the remaining players on a slowly dying server. That small guild may be perfectly content with their small quiet server and have no desire to exist amongst thousands of other players tying up instances, waiting in line for place holder mobs, or competing with 300 other merchants on broker undercutting their prices every 5 minutes. For whatever reason, these players do not want to move.
So What Is The Solution If Not A Forced Server Merge?
Simple answer. So, simple in fact that it absolutely baffles me that people cry "Merger!" at the first sign of a diminishing population on their server.
Free Character Transfers for a limited time. This gives everyone a choice of which server they would like to transfer to instead of herding them on to one server which may not have the type of community that appeals to certain players.
Case in point.
I play on Venekor in EverQuest II. My server is labeled as RP (Role Play) and PvP (Player vs Player). Its a server with a small population and whats considered a "Casual PvP" environment. This means that I'm not set upon by 5, 10 no 20 large lads (Sorry for the Robin Hood reference) every time I leave West Freeport. But, I know where the popular areas to farm, harvest, quest are. So, if I'm looking for a fight I know where to look. And, at all times I can enjoy that sense of always looking over my shoulder in an otherwise predictable environment such as that that exists on the PvE (Player vs Environment) servers. Now, Nagafen is also a PvP server, which does not encourage or discourage Role Play. My preferred play style. It also has a much larger population than Venekor. In fact, some claim that Venekor is all but empty these days. So empty, that many people are crying "Server Merger!" at this very moment.
Here's the rub. By merging Venekor with Nagafen, hundreds of people who enjoy the laid back atmosphere of their "Casual PvP" Role Play server, are thrust on to a server and thrown to the wolves. Their preferred play style of Role Play is no longer entertained and the close knit "small town" feel they are used is replaced by thousands of blood thirsty PK's (Player Killers) whose only goal in EQ2 is to kill anything and anyone that moves on their screen.
I would almost, and I emphasize almost, prefer to be merged with a PvE server if faced with such a merger. And, I'm not alone. As a matter of fact, quitting the game all together is more appealing to many people than such a union of differing play styles.
Free Character Transfers Is The Only Solution.
A window of one week is plenty of time for people to decide what they'd like to do. And, it gives them a choice instead of having a choice made for them, which is exactly what a Server Merge does.
1. They can sit and go down with the ship if they so choose. Play on the empty server until they receive the ingame message that the server will be shut down for good in 10 minutes.
2. Transfer to a server which is more condusive to their play stye. In the scenario I cited above, the residents of Venekor can transfer to Nagafen. Or they can transfer to a PvE server. Its a radical decision, I admit. But, its also a very unique situation based on the play styles involved. This type of decision would be very easy for those on a dying PvE server because there would be a dozen other servers to choose from.
3. Quit the game. Harsh? Yeah. But, lets face it, if you're not happy with your current situation and you've already been offered alternatives, none of which you are agreeable to. What choice do you have left? But, lets face it, people who love EverQuest II will most likely choose one of the options above.
So in closing, it is very apparent that server mergers are rarely the solution to a low population. And, Free Character Transfers are Win-Win situation for both the players and SOE. Player have a choice. And, SOE is saving time, money and resources by simply removing the $50 transfer fee for a limited time.
So, to those out there screaming "Merge The Servers!!": Knock it off! What you want is not always best for the rest of the community. You are simply being selfish and with such an attitude, I'm sure many of your peers would probably chip in towards the $50 just to get you the hell off their server anyways.
Till next time.. Safe travels, and may your purse be full when you're AFK and green conned on my Tracking Window! XD
SpyderBite
Tags: Editorial, EverQuestII