Merge Servers

[Talonaise]

Really the title says it all. There is a shrinking player base and there are far too many servers. By consolidating the servers the game becomes more active and attractive to new players, old players and returning players.

Ok, have at it.

[redspecter23]

Really the title says it all. There is a shrinking player base and there are far too many servers. By consolidating the servers the game becomes more active and attractive to new players, old players and returning players.

Ok, have at it.

Soon enough you'll have at least a few players who will agree with you and a pile more coming up with all manner of reasons why it's a bad idea. My opinion is more players gathered up together is a good thing. This game isn't big enough to support as many servers as it has, especially Wayfinder. Merging servers could be seen as bad PR and a sign the game is dying, but Turbine has been pretty good at providing it's own bad PR so this shouldn't be a reason for them not to go ahead and merge. They really have a hard idea seeing terrible ideas coming from within.

This is one of the great MMO's but suffers from some very poor decisions made at the management and marketing levels. A server merge is most certainly coming at some point. I just hope they handle the situation well.

[Shmuel]

I agree with Juan. .Previous posters have made all the same points I would have. It is past time for this. Merge!

[dunklezhan]

Soon enough you'll have at least a few players who will agree with you and a pile more coming up with all manner of reasons why it's a bad idea. My opinion is more players gathered up together is a good thing. This game isn't big enough to support as many servers as it has, especially Wayfinder. Merging servers could be seen as bad PR and a sign the game is dying, but Turbine has been pretty good at providing it's own bad PR so this shouldn't be a reason for them not to go ahead and merge. They really have a hard idea seeing terrible ideas coming from within.

This is one of the great MMO's but suffers from some very poor decisions made at the management and marketing levels. A server merge is most certainly coming at some point. I just hope they handle the situation well.

I am loathe to agree with the calls to merge, but i really think its time for some. Also I wanted to highlight the point in bold above which is well made. But right now the game is underpopulated and you will not retain any new players while its like that because DDO isn't and shouldn't become a game that is too solo friendly, particularly into double digit levels. And that means it needs a critical mass of players who can access each other in order to play it properly and experience it properly - which is the only way to find out how great it really is, and want to stick around.

Personally, i think it's time for a bit of drastic action, and server merge is just the first step:

1. Server merge.
2. Serious review of pricing and bundling, particularly of things like the expansions (which were a really bad idea in general in terms of keeping the player base together - they're just too expensive for a new player who thinks they're getting a free game and finds out all the play is happening in FR at Epic levels and they have to pay to get the expansion never mind any adventure packs they might need to level up to it!) and adventure packs. Rebalance is needed if you want to attract new folk. I already have all the packs so this isn't a personal grab - I really just think they're too expensive now, and you need players in. Time for a general price cut across the board I would say if you want to compete with your 8 year old game in the F2P market now. Really.
3. Then a concerted marketing campaign, aimed at low hanging fruit: Don't outsource this or give it to Marketing Dept proper, get the community reps getting something going in places like the Giant in the Playground forums. Get word out that it's worth trying again, that it's had a price drop, that its a real challenge with crunchy character advancement not some namby pamby lowest common denominator button masher. That is attractive to your core audience - look at DnD Next. Even Hasbro seem to finally get it. Play to that.


Don't get me wrong - I don't think the game is dying, not properly, not yet. But I think unless action is taken early to head it off, it will be, and I think we're nearing the point where it will become too late to sail against the tide. So yes to server merge. But yes to some other stuff too.

[DakDeFrosted]

There are only two choices to increase the numbers of players on a server.

1) Merge with another server/servers.

2) Bring in and retain new players.

Since #2 is basically not going to happen anytime soon with no promotion or marketing, I'd say we really only have one obvious choice.

[Cetus]

Yes to server merge

I've yet to see a sound argument against this motion that isn't balanced by a benefit of the merger.

[MalkavianX]

I think this will be the third or fourth (maybe fifth?) "Merge the servers" post I've replied to with the same reply.

Say I have 9 out of 15 characters on Argo and 12 out of 15 on Cannith and they decide to merge Cannith and Argo. After the merger, do I have 21 characters out of 30 character slots? Or am I stuck with 21 characters out of 15 character slots, being unable to play 6 of my characters until I buy 6 more slots? If it was the 21/30 option I'd sign on the "merge the server" band wagon in a heartbeat. Otherwise....

This question has yet to be addressed.

On a side note, they should sticky one of the multitude of "merge the server" posts. Then everyone can just post there instead of opening up a new one every 5 to 7 days. Or, more to the point, the mods could close down new posts asap.

[skaught78]

/signed

And this! *applaud*!!!!

...Turbine has been pretty good at providing it's own bad PR so this shouldn't be a reason for them not to go ahead and merge. They really have a hard idea seeing terrible ideas coming from within.

This is one of the great MMO's but suffers from some very poor decisions made at the management and marketing levels...

[Missing_Minds]

Ok, have at it.

1. Turbine does not have server hardware of their own. It is rented. Aka they are bound by contracts.
2. Merging servers costs Turbine monies because they they have to merge databases of characters
3. Merging also means players are going to LOSE their names. This does and will cause loss of players.

There is a LOT more than just going "merge the servers" to make it happen AND make it cost effective to do so.

When it is economical to do so, expect them to do so and not before.

[Ivan_Milic]

1. Turbine does not have server hardware of their own. It is rented. Aka they are bound by contracts.
2. Merging servers costs Turbine monies because they they have to merge databases of characters
3. Merging also means players are going to LOSE their names. This does and will cause loss of players.

There is a LOT more than just going "merge the servers" to make it happen AND make it cost effective to do so.

When it is economical to do so, expect them to do so and not before.

New players coming on low population server will leave if they cant find other people to play with.
Players will just get a -1 to their name, I would like that for my name.
Old players stuck on low population server are going to leave due to having nobody to play with.
My solution, dont have to merge server, give everyone on wayfinder a free transfer, they can choose where to go, then after a month or two, close down the server, can do with some other servers too.

[Missing_Minds]

New players coming on low population server will leave if they cant find other people to play with.
Players will just get a -1 to their name, I would like that for my name.
Old players stuck on low population server are going to leave due to having nobody to play with.
My solution, dont have to merge server, give everyone on wayfinder a free transfer, they can choose where to go, then after a month or two, close down the server, can do with some other servers too.

If they don't have it automated (server transfers) that still costs monies, and forces name changes on players if they so choose.

Still a loss situation over all.

That said, I honestly can not think of any good solution either.

[Talonaise]

1. Turbine does not have server hardware of their own. It is rented. Aka they are bound by contracts.
2. Merging servers costs Turbine monies because they they have to merge databases of characters
3. Merging also means players are going to LOSE their names. This does and will cause loss of players.

There is a LOT more than just going "merge the servers" to make it happen AND make it cost effective to do so.

When it is economical to do so, expect them to do so and not before.

They have merged servers before -- WAY back when, Maybar got merged with Argo - and maybe a couple others. Yes some people got their names with numbers. We adjusted, not a big deal. It was based on who had the name first got it unmodified. I do realize it will cost money, however, as pointed out by others, having a low player base is costing them money.

oh, and don't call me Juan!

[Sidewaysgts86]

2. Merging servers costs Turbine monies because they they have to merge databases of characters

Neato. Do you have any idea how much? Just ball park, even.

[Missing_Minds]

Neato. Do you have any idea how much? Just ball park, even.

Nope. Just that it is a job they would have to do a a major piece at that.

[Sidewaysgts86]

Nope...

Ah I see.


But isnt it a bit.. Ill just say silly, to assert that one reason you feel something shouldnt be done and youre not for- is based on monetary concerns, when you admit you have absolutely no idea how much money what your "concerned" over would actually need?

[Missing_Minds]

Ah I see.

But isnt it a bit.. Ill just say silly, to assert that one reason you feel something shouldnt be done and youre not for- is based on monetary concerns, when you admit you have absolutely no idea how much money what your "concerned" over would actually need?

Ah, reading comprehension, it has failed you.

I am neither for nor against a merge. I have listed off MAJOR issues that would cost monies to which end, as I said previously...

When it is economical to do so, expect them to do so and not before.

As for just the databases..

How much do database admins make up there?
How large are these databases?
How efficient are these databases that will have to be merged together?
Would the merge of databases now require more robust hardware and utterly new contracts to support it vs a reduced version of the previous?
How long does it take to verify the merging was good before going live?

Those are sample of of questions we do NOT have answers for, hence why I'm not going to bother to take a guess.


So no. I do not feel one bit silly for my post.

[moo_cow]

1. Turbine does not have server hardware of their own. It is rented. Aka they are bound by contracts.
2. Merging servers costs Turbine monies because they they have to merge databases of characters
3. Merging also means players are going to LOSE their names. This does and will cause loss of players.

There is a LOT more than just going "merge the servers" to make it happen AND make it cost effective to do so.

When it is economical to do so, expect them to do so and not before.

They have merged server before I don't see why they can't do it again.

Also, they are going to lose more money by loss of player due to low server population then they would for the cost of a merge.

So my name changes, I will put 1 extra letter at the end of my name and I will have a lot more people to play with. How is this a bad idea?

[Missing_Minds]

Minrothad: The way they did it before is that if there was a name conflict, your character would get renamed to "character name-server name". You were also provided a free rename token to handle that. ((You were supposed to use the token and rename your character in one month, but I never bothered. I enjoyed having the "title" as it were.))

They have merged server before I don't see why they can't do it again.

No one has said they are incapable of doing so.

Also, they are going to lose more money by loss of player due to low server population then they would for the cost of a merge.

So you know the costs of everything I've stated?
You know how many players they are bleeding and the rough "value" that one player has?

Do you work for Turbine? How did you come by this confidential data?
No, what you have is pure speculation at the current time. Just because you may not see many players on the LFG or what have you, only Turbine knows the facts of how many people are on, how much is being spent, and how bad the bleed is. As I stated, Turbine will merge when it is cost effective to do so and not before. However, do not confuse cost effective with optimal.

So my name changes, I will put 1 extra letter at the end of my name and I will have a lot more people to play with. How is this a bad idea?

And for some, that is an utter deal breaker. The fact is some people won't have issues with name changing, and others will have a big issue with it. There is not "correct" answer for it. (other than they should NEVER have made it so singular name limited. That archaic method was outdated even before DDO started.)

[moo_cow]

No one has said they are incapable of doing so.


So you know the costs of everything I've stated?
You know how many players they are bleeding and the rough "value" that one player has?

Do you work for Turbine? How did you come by this confidential data?
No, what you have is pure speculation at the current time. Just because you may not see many players on the LFG or what have you, only Turbine knows the facts of how many people are on, how much is being spent, and how bad the bleed is. As I stated, Turbine will merge when it is cost effective to do so and not before. However, do not confuse cost effective with optimal.


And for some, that is an utter deal breaker. The fact is some people won't have issues with name changing, and others will have a big issue with it. There is not "correct" answer for it. (other than they should NEVER have made it so singular name limited. That archaic method was outdated even before DDO started.)

I never said that someone said that they were incapable of doing so.

Obviously I don't know the costs associated with it, but population has turned into a huge problem. I suppose I can't just say that it will save money! do it now! But if they don't merge servers the population of players is just going to keep plummeting. And if they are just gonna do it when it's most effective, then that may be a stupid idea.(their idea of effective may be different) People are leaving because of endgame? well lets start developing endgame.... ya little late for that.... should of been developing end game content while focusing on enhancement changes. So they started developing more endgame when they saw it would be most effective? Brilliant. So they lost a **** ton of players, but they did it when they saw it would be most effective? I don't have faith that they will merge the servers when it is most effective, because by that time it will most likely be to late.

Speculation based on past experience with this game ....


And if they knew anything about their bleed and that basically no one is playing, maybe they would do something. i don't believe they do know though, I play on argo, I'm in an end game guild and in 4 chat channel (most of which are some of the most active on the server). There is just no one to play with....if they think that the population is doing fine, then whoever is in charge needs to be fired.

[Captain_Wizbang]

1. Turbine does not have server hardware of their own. It is rented. Aka they are bound by contracts.
2. Merging servers costs Turbine monies because they they have to merge databases of characters
3. Merging also means players are going to LOSE their names. This does and will cause loss of players.

There is a LOT more than just going "merge the servers" to make it happen AND make it cost effective to do so.

When it is economical to do so, expect them to do so and not before.

MM, good post. And I approve his message.