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UK player dilemma: lag free or pop free?
triprunner
Member Posts: 169
So far i really like this game. Its graphics, atmosphere, freshness... Even the distribution through free client download is brilliant (and F2P content at the start). Of course life can't be perfect and there's always something that will destroy your newfound enthusiasm.
In this case it's the stupid idea that UK is a 51 state. I as a player from UK have downloaded the Acclaim client as i was at that time oblivious of the knowledge of the EU servers. After quick dl and install i was pleased to see a game that i really liked. That is to the first disconnect about 40 minutes later. And the next one, 30 mins later. And next one, and the next... and so on.
Population wise US PvP server was brimming with players. There was no mobs to kill literally there were so many. Chat was so active you actually couldn't (still can't) see anything because of the scrolling rate... And there again i got disconnected this time during combat losing 3 levels of PeP. I banged my hand on the table, and decided to try my luck on the EU servers (found out about them in the zone chat in Hawk's Landing).
I dl'ed EU client, quick install, chose a German PvP server and so i went in. Hawk's landing was empty... Hawksmouth was empty. No lag, no disconnect, but also a overwhelming emptiness.
So the You go. Either playing on a US server, suffering disconnects and lag but getting grouped easily and be in contact with other players. Or, having a smooth, lag free but single player experience on the EU servers...
The other thing that sprang to my mind:
I called on general chat ont he german PvPserver for few minutes and finally someone replied in surprisingly good english. He said that a lot of people moves to US server because of the pop and check this: NAMING of the servers. A lot of different nationalities players thought these servers were exclusive for Germans and French and that's the main language in the chat and the client. The dumb naming policy (they coud just be called EU servers) is scaring away potential UK and EU players (like me) to play in lag infested, disconnect nightmare thus making the game really unattractive and a bad experience.
There's people from all over Europe playing on German and French servers and their common language is English. So don't worry about that. I'm surprised by the cretinous politics of both Acclaim and Frogster who prevent this game the success it deserves.
Comments
I'd suggest playing on the "International" servers on the EU client, such as Dravhare. I play on that server and it's one of the more populated, although still pretty quiet. The starter zones are usually pretty populated, though. I've noticed a lot of players there over the past few days. The population has been steadily increasing over the past week as the IP blocks have been lifted. I would assume/hope that they continue to do so. You playing there can only help that along; bring your friends. The population should be up to a pretty healthy level soon. Also, the servers are lag free and damned good. I actually play on them from the US with absolutely no lag. Not to mention the other obvious advantages of playing on the EU servers, meaning not having to deal with Acclaim. There's a real subscription plan in place (no coin system). You speak directly to the devs who are helpful and respond to the problem in the game in a timely manner. There's no wait for patches to be transferred over like there is on the Acclaim servers. The list goes on.
If you haven't heard, Acclaim's servers had a reroll last night that erased 5 hours of progress. Their response to the matter was basically "Tough break, deal with it." If that's not an indication to play on the EU servers for you and anyone else who wants to play, I don't know what is. Oh wait, yes I do - everything else Acclaim has ever done.
Hope this helps with your decision.
Agreed, after IP block lift, in EU international servers comes more and more people. Only drawback is that redirection stuff (atleast from acllaim countries) to acllaim web. It's hard to find information and create account even if you know that you can play on EU servers.
But still... EU servers now is more healthy than ever before and growing.
I wish the EU servers the best, as long as SiL get paid I'm not too worried where people play tbh, as long as they play
I'm from the UK as well, but I havent experienced the 'hell' the OP describes at all... I dunno... I'm not saying that he hasnt, just that I havent.
I have a little lag now and again, and a bit of rubberbanding, but thats about it realy... Well worth the price of playing on a single language server (for community reasons) that has a high pop (for PvP reasons).
I wish the EU servers the best tho, I would love SB to be a runaway success all over.
btw, those of you experiencing low framerate etc should look at this; http://phpbb.acclaim.com/spellborn/viewtopic.php?t=1927
Coming from the UK, why did you go to the German Server?
But really i'm in the same boat as you from the UK, i did play back in December as was able to sub then but they got wise to this after my month was up. Anyway in the month on the International PVP server i managed to get to lvl 19 and really enjoyed the game.
So was excited to try the US servers upon the Open Beta; it was chaos, waaaay to many people and not enough monsters. I didn't really have any probs with disconnects or Lag though. Oh and the community stank!
So i uninstalled and decided to go back to the EU client with news on the ip ban lifting, i'm now subscribed again.
The community is increasing and its nice to see new faces running around the starter zones. It's nowhere near as populated as the US servers but believe me this is a good thing....Those guys were queuing up to kill bears!
I think i've made the right decision to stick to the Euro servers.
Cheers
Paul
hehe yeah Hawkschat is horrible I agree, but the P2P community is actually excellent, and /ignore is your friend (you can also tutn channels off if it really gets too much).
99% of the asshat white noise is created by attention seeking kids who will never sub, it isnt an indication of the rest of the server community by a long shot.
The mob shortage has been recognised as an issue officially and they are taking steps to make sure it's better for 'live'
Bwahaha! Bush's plan worked. You guys have been bamboozled by a cowboy. Now YOU're the colonies.
Seriously though, I just got the NA client installed and I fear the 1-7 content now. I'm gonna stick with it since I know it will even out when I reach the subscriber content.
Its sad what happened to the bears though. Once a dangerous predator of the forest is now an endangered species.
"Coming from the UK, why did you go to the German Server?"
Well it had best ping. Apart from that i understand and speak a bit of German, so it was and obvious choice. (although my fears were unfounded as people there spoke English as i mentioned in my post above) And there's no EU English or UK server so Your question lacks validity because in EU You are only given a choice of playing on french and german servers...
As i said in my original post, UK is bundled on one server with NA which is really annoying because of the lag (seems to improved) but the client still often disconnects midgame.
P.S. I still haven't noticed any surge of population on EU servers (PvP ones are the ones i care about) it's still nothing compared to US servers. Logged in many times in the afternoon, and evening and saw 4 other players at most in the starter zone.
lol
Basically clicking away text windows ruins every MMO, try to have fun instead of rushing things. Without story and lore all there is left is a bunch of mechanics.
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OK, so finally i get it. Theres two PvP servers both named the same. But if Youre using EU client its redirects You to International EU server and if ure on US client the one in America.
As i said before server naming in TCoS is mildly to say cretinous. I was held in a belief i was seeing US international PvP server in the EU client. Well, it has the same name, doesnt it?
Anyways, i shoul've read up about the servers and the whole EU/US thing, so shame on me.
Ill definitely sub, ill pick US servers as i prefer the client's looks and options, and the pop is massive there. I'm still worried about the disconnections but my liking of the game overcomes even that annoying issue.
That said, is Eu client the latest one after the update? Well got to say, speech bubbles (wtf?), half hidden channel icons in chat window and failage to memorize last chosen chat options (fade, profanity filter) isn't really an improvement. Also the loot window is super small, and there's still no auto loot option.
For the update i'd like to see a quest tracker. No, not the one that shows u arrows to your goal, or red area of the quest on the map. No. The one that in the corner of the screen that has texted summary of the quest and goal status. For example how many more boars/wolves/bears u have still to kill and etc. Really handy and useful.
You have two servers marked "international" as oppesed to being french or german. There is alot of people coming in through the tutorial in the dock on the internation PvP server steadily, and only that amounts well above 4 people. And the two first zones have filled up pretty well during this last week.
But I intrigued to what you did to pinpoint that the german server had better ping?
I'm so broke. I can't even pay attention.
"You have the right not to be killed"
Are there any other option avaible than autoloot? The only thing you need to do is to choose from the dialog if you want the loot or not.
I'm so broke. I can't even pay attention.
"You have the right not to be killed"
I am from the US and play on the EU International PvP server. I am glad I came over from the Acclaim PvP server. I feel the EU server will have a steady growth where as I see the Acclaim servers take a big hit once their servers "go live."