Server Mergers VS Char Transfer

[Climhazzard]

Originally Posted by Kerrec

3) I'm not sure about this, but if same names are allowed across multiple servers, then that can cause a huge logistical nightmare, especially if someone will not want to give up their name, for any reason.

Character names are unique across all servers.

[Beerbeer]

I'm no soothsayer, but I imagine once transfers go live, servers with underpopulated factions will get exceedingly worse as I'm sure enough players on the low ball faction will leave for greener pastures.

Then the servers will mirror the continents, with one or two factions dominating one server, way worse than it is now.

And then we can laugh.

[capiqu]

Originally Posted by Tatwi

The best (and non-money-grabbing) solution is to make character account bound rather than server bound. Let people log in, pick their character, and pick the server they want to play on. After 15min of play time, that server choice "sticks" for that character for 12 hours. Simple, functional, and solves all population issues without milking customers.

FYI - SOE knows how to make account bound characters. They've been doing it with FreeRealms (using the Forgelight backend) for years, so this is nothing new or strange to them.

I like. This would also allow east coast outfits play against west coast outfits on those underpopulated servers.

[CaptainTenneal]

I've been wanting the account-bound approach the whole time, BUT the server switch tokens will definitely help the situation. Let the *players* do the merge, win-win. Actually win-win-win because SOE gets a little extra cash.

[psijaka]

Like the concept of server transfers but will not be happy if they are only available for SC. Should be an option to change for say 200 certs (or whatever).

In this way, people who are paying for free can move as well, and in effect the populations will become concentrated on a few favoured servers (as if servers were merged), with others being abandoned. I'm fine with this as long as people don't get stuck on a "ghost" server.

[james]

Originally Posted by CaptainTenneal

I've been wanting the account-bound approach the whole time, BUT the server switch tokens will definitely help the situation. Let the *players* do the merge, win-win. Actually win-win-win because SOE gets a little extra cash.

The problem is an average player will not move. They need to suck it up and relize, the player pop is not as good as they would have liked. Combine the servers so you don't kill off the rest of your community. On the server i play on Connery, its basically down to 2 continents with nothing but zergs and 1 continent with a fight

[DaPope]

I like the idea of being able to pay (certs or SC) to transfer early. But if your server is being merged you should get 1 free token to take your character somewhere else since you are being forced to move.

[CraazyCanuck]

Do both. Merge servers and then offer 1 free transfer after that and each subsequent transfer costs the user some coin.

[Beerbeer]

Well, we all know what the right choice is, let us see what they do, lol.