Server merge.

lackluster · May 2007

I've had an account with VG from the start. Slowly, I believe, the problems are being worked out, albeit the product was rushed out the door. I have mixed feelings about the SOE takeover but I don't think that it will get worse. I also flip-flop about my feelings towards Brad. On one hand he should have been there in the end, but someplace I find sympathy for him. It might just be because everyone thinks he's at home counting his money and I doubt thats very true. He had passion for his project and dedication for his team, but most likely wasnt cut out to be a CEO of a company.

All of these points aside, there are rumors flying around about the changes SOE will incorporate. One of these is the merging of servers. I for one think its a positive move, if Sony decides to go through with it. The one thing that really bothers me and prevents me from playing longer is the empty feel of the world. (I know the world is a big one) There just arent enough people to group with or make friends with. I could wait hours just to get a group. Personally, a server merge would be a welcome change over on this end.

Drokar · May 2007

It is a logistical nightmare to merge servers. It would take far more effort to merge then to leave it alone. Seriously, they still havent done it with SWG and they have 2-3 times as many servers, many of which are very empty. You have to remember that people have houses, items in those houses, etc. Mergers just dont work when you have SWG / Vanguard architecture, however it would work and be fairly easy for a game like WoW since there are no player owned structures to deal with.

Praxus · May 2007

They need to do this ASAP. I've stopped logging on much because there is no one around to group with. Last night at midnight EST there was 10 people LFG on Shidreth. TEN people LFG on the entire server!

If they don't merge servers quick, the game will die. Its pretty bad when even fans like me aren't logging on because there isn't enough people.

Kenze · May 2007

I agree the merge needs to happen soon. However tales of all the dupes and exploits and ruined economies on other servers scare me.

Praxus · May 2007

I think you're mixing up two very different things.

Merge - yes !

Wipe? that's just ridiculous. Is that a joke? Would be a nice way to lose any remaining subscribers.

different · May 2007

I quit last week but was on Gelenia on of the more populated servers. The game needs server merges ASAP.

People are and will quit if they can't get groups. It's a downward spiral, and the only course of action left is to mnerge whose servers now before everyone on the server owns property and the problems presented by a server merge.

In short, if they don't merge soon, the population will fall even more, yet at the same time a merge becomes more unlikely.

Coldmeat · May 2007

Indeed. As I said a few times regarding my recent retry of the game. I was having fun enough playing my, admittedly, overpowered Cleric, but the lack of groups was a real buzzkill for me.

Unless I'm willing to compromise my usual standards for joining a guild, I'm pretty SOL as things stand. Nor am I willing to pay to play a game were 60%+ of the content is denied to me at a level I would find it useful because I don't have a steady, regular group. Sadly, Varking, the server I would most prefer to play on is extra screwed, because there aren't any other Team PvP based servers to merge with. Merging the FFA and Team pvp servers wouldn't work, I don't think. Though, at this point, us pvp folk might be so desperate for some action that we'd take any bone we could get, even if it meant a switch of rule sets.

The PvE servers, Florywhatsis notwithstanding, need to be merged, badly. When you have less than 1k online at peak time... That's bad, no matter what rosy picture the last couple of clinging Holocaust deniers try to paint you about the population...

xcryonicx · May 2007

The game severely needs server merges. Way too few people online and seeing all the servers stuck at low constantly is just depressing. What about housing though? Wouldn't it be kind of hard to merge that?

lackluster · May 2007

There is a real problem with server merges and player built/owned housing. It would be a logistical nightmare and I'm sure that some players would get the short end of the stick, but something has to be done. I for one would be slightly angry if I lost some of my better equipment but you have to look at the long term. A server merge will only get more complicated as time runs on. SOE should move on this ASAP to avoid further complications. You have to look ahead and see the big picture and the best fix for it right now is a merge. SOE might loose some accounts but I think thats a chance they have to take. Hopefully, more stable gameplay, patching, and a populated world will bring some life back to VG and with all the hubbub about Brad and Sigil why not do it now? Point the finger at Sigil if you have to and use them as a whipping boy. Might as well pass the buck and try to keep the game alive.

Acesquared · May 2007

I say, merge the servers now. Those that have the oldest title to the land plot keeps it, the other player loses it. Let them go buy more gold from their Korean cousins that keep crashing zones and duping gold if they want another house.

While they are at it, they can delete any toons under lvl 5 that have more than 1 gold in their inventory.

Peace,

Aces

Saramine · May 2007

I joined vanguard a few day earlier than release with the preorder and at first despite the bug it was fun and there were people to group with. Then I had to quit for a month or 2 and now that I am back I can never find a group in the middle levels. My husband who has a level 45 and 50 has no problems with groups. But I can't find one for the life of me. I woulod love a server merge to hold us over until some more people start playing.

metalcore · May 2007

They should have recommended servers and fill them up, allowing others to transfer if they want.

Acesquared · May 2007

bump

Has anyone heard anything about any possible server merge? Facts would be nice, but rumors will do.

Peace,

Aces

Chessack · May 2007

Originally posted by lackluster

There is a real problem with server merges and player built/owned housing. It would be a logistical nightmare and I'm sure that some players would get the short end of the stick, but something has to be done.

This is the same complaint/gripe made in every game that has things like in-game housing. It's absurd that developers in this day and age have not/will not plan for it. They need to design the game so that yes, it has player housing, but no, server merges will not be a problem. How do they do that? Well, that is their problem to figure out, frankly. I am not the coder. But one can envision lots of solutions such as having pre-built some code that will bring new small "residential" islands into play in each continent, with exactly the same # of housing spaces as those on the old server, and just move things both by server and x-y-z coordinate to the new island on the new server. So you'd keep your stuff, and your home continent would be the same but you'd be on an island a few miles away on a new server. This would be entirely acceptable to most players and would avoid the problem of "Oh crap we can't merge servers because of housing."

All games should realize that eventually they will wane, and eventually they will have to merge servers. Not preparing for it is both irresponsible and unprofessional at this point.

C

Urdig · May 2007

Originally posted by Coldmeat

Indeed. As I said a few times regarding my recent retry of the game. I was having fun enough playing my, admittedly, overpowered Cleric, but the lack of groups was a real buzzkill for me.
Unless I'm willing to compromise my usual standards for joining a guild, I'm pretty SOL as things stand. Nor am I willing to pay to play a game were 60%+ of the content is denied to me at a level I would find it useful because I don't have a steady, regular group. Sadly, Varking, the server I would most prefer to play on is extra screwed, because there aren't any other Team PvP based servers to merge with. Merging the FFA and Team pvp servers wouldn't work, I don't think. Though, at this point, us pvp folk might be so desperate for some action that we'd take any bone we could get, even if it meant a switch of rule sets.
The PvE servers, Florywhatsis notwithstanding, need to be merged, badly. When you have less than 1k online at peak time... That's bad, no matter what rosy picture the last couple of clinging Holocaust deniers try to paint you about the population...

I'm on Tharridon. I wouldn't mind if all the folks from Varking came over.

Hell no to a player wipe.

Shayde · May 2007

Merge.... that's a real possibility. There's very little investment in real estate at the moment.. nothing people are really attached to yet... invested in.

Wipe? Are you insane? Let's get the few remaining players to quit.

FischerBlack · May 2007

The points against a PvE server megre (primarily player housing) are quite valid, but imo the benefits of the merge far outweigh the costs. I would love to see the number of PvE servers halved. The sooner the better (certainly before guild plots and the like come in). Perhps there could be some sort of compensation for people who lose property in the merge?

As far as PvP is concerned, I think that is a little more difficult with the two rulesets and all.

Hopefully server merges are addressed (either positively or negatively) when Smed releases the update outline in the next week or so.

M1sf1t · May 2007

I am sorry but from reading the VG official forums it seems every server in that game is low pop even on prime time hours. From my own experience with EQ2 merging servers does more good then harm. EQ2 had many low pop servers which turned people away and thus ensured noobs would quit playing when they couldn't group with anyone on a low pop server.

If VG is going to attempt to survive then servers must be merged no questions asked. No one is going to sub to a game in which every server is a low pop server. Especially when we know for sure that a max number for a VG pop server is 5,000 players. This means most VG low pop servers are 1,000 players or less! I have no doubt that SOE will eventually merge servers. To pay for servers with near dead populations is just a waste of money and resources that can be better used elsewhere in this game.

Clada · May 2007

They need to merge, I love the game but am so sick of soloing!!

KariTR · May 2007

Originally posted by Coldmeat

Sadly, Varking, the server I would most prefer to play on is extra screwed, because there aren't any other Team PvP based servers to merge with.

AFAIK (VG players server info being incomplete) Frengot is the European Team PvP server so we (I play Varking) could merge with them with no change of ruleset.

House-owners may not be able to have their exact place in the world replicated if merges happened, but Telon isnt lacking for building sites - this isnt the "nightmare" some posters suggest it is. I hope we see merges asap.

lackluster · May 2007

Originally posted by Chessack

Originally posted by lackluster

There is a real problem with server merges and player built/owned housing. It would be a logistical nightmare and I'm sure that some players would get the short end of the stick, but something has to be done.

This is the same complaint/gripe made in every game that has things like in-game housing. It's absurd that developers in this day and age have not/will not plan for it. They need to design the game so that yes, it has player housing, but no, server merges will not be a problem. How do they do that? Well, that is their problem to figure out, frankly. I am not the coder. But one can envision lots of solutions such as having pre-built some code that will bring new small "residential" islands into play in each continent, with exactly the same # of housing spaces as those on the old server, and just move things both by server and x-y-z coordinate to the new island on the new server. So you'd keep your stuff, and your home continent would be the same but you'd be on an island a few miles away on a new server. This would be entirely acceptable to most players and would avoid the problem of "Oh crap we can't merge servers because of housing."

All games should realize that eventually they will wane, and eventually they will have to merge servers. Not preparing for it is both irresponsible and unprofessional at this point.

C

It wasn't a gripe, if you looked through the whole post. I was only pointing out the difficulties with a server merge, but still rallying for one.

Faelan · May 2007

Originally posted by KariTR

Originally posted by Coldmeat

Sadly, Varking, the server I would most prefer to play on is extra screwed, because there aren't any other Team PvP based servers to merge with.

AFAIK (VG players server info being incomplete) Frengot is the European Team PvP server so we (I play Varking) could merge with them with no change of ruleset.

House-owners may not be able to have their exact place in the world replicated if merges happened, but Telon isnt lacking for building sites - this isnt the "nightmare" some posters suggest it is. I hope we see merges asap.

That would work in theory. Of course, knowing how Europeans always get the short end of the stick, the merged server would end up being a US based server, no doubt. Although being located in the EU, I normally don't have any latency issues with playing on US servers. Except in VG. For some reason, VG to me runs kinda like EQ ran back in 1999 on a 28.8K modem. Playable, yes... even acceptable if there is no other choice, but I'd think twice before trying to PvP with that kind of latency. So the big question is, assuming my case isn't unique or something, would the EU PvP players be willing to accept that?

achellis · May 2007

yeah man i agree to the fullest.. The merge needs to happen and it will happen. If they dont then the game will get better game play and no one to group with to experaince the game place. I mean i love playing PvP on the FFA server but there wasnt ever anyone to group with because every server but the EU server was low pop. so i switched to the Med popo EU server and yeah i mean there are a few more people but not enough.. they need to merge the 2 PvP serves together to make it Med pop and then make the EU and one other server a high pop server. Its not just somethign i want to happen but it needs to happen.

iluvVG · May 2007

I agree a server merge is needed at this point in Vanguards life. Sadly, bugs upon more bugs have lead to duped items and currency, power leveling, etc. Currently I play on the Tharridon FFA PVP server, and am watching several people on my friends list jump 10-20 levels a day with the Cleric ressurection exploit.

The economy is suffering as well. Three weeks ago, my guild mate bought a caravel (T4 boat) for 1.2 platinum. This is when plat was actually worth something. Now the going rate for a boat like this on the Tharridon server is 6+ plat. Keep in mind the currency cap is 10p (or was last time i checked). This might be just on the pvp server, which tends to have more people buying gold online, yet still something needs to be done here.

I also understand why SOE would be hesitant about this. A server merge including a player wipe would cost them a massive proportion of their subscriptions, after they have already lost so many. If servers were merged, and a character/currency wipe was performed, it may hurt the player base so bad that they could not recover.

And so SOE is faced with the question: Do we run a corrupted game, or do we risk losing half or more of our players for justice?

I for one would not quit. Partly because many of you name me as the ultimate VG fanboy, but mostly because after the wipe the game would improve, and going through the process again with better rules and a greater population wouldn't be so bad, and in the long run its the smart choice.

spankybus · May 2007

A merge would be great.

How did you role a character Wipe into that question?

iluvVG · May 2007

Originally posted by spankybus

A merge would be great.

How did you role a character Wipe into that question?

Well, it seems like a server merge would almost require a character and currency wipe as well.

Housing for instance. Since housing is not instanced, what if my plot was on the same plot as someone on the merging server? Which one of us would be forced to give up our house?

Also, is character name scope server wide, or game wide? If was able to keep my gold when they brought my character over to the new server, how would that effect the economy of the new server?

Seems like a more simple, more fair way to just wipe it all out and force everyone to start from scratch.

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